Health authorities are investigating three suspected Ebola cases admitted to Mubende Regional Referral Hospital as Uganda heightens surveillance amid renewed concerns over cross-border transmission of the viral disease.
Hospital officials confirmed that the patients were isolated immediately upon arrival after presenting symptoms consistent with Ebola virus disease, including high fever and other hemorrhagic indicators.
Medical teams have since collected samples from the suspected cases and forwarded them to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) for confirmatory laboratory testing.
A senior health official at the facility, who declined to be named because they are not authorized to speak to the media, said the isolation procedures were activated in line with national infection prevention and control protocols.
“We responded by immediately placing the patients in isolation and initiating sample collection for further analysis,” the official said.
The Ministry of Health is yet to issue an official statement on the suspected cases, but surveillance teams have reportedly been deployed to Mubende District to trace possible contacts and assess any potential risk of community transmission.
The development comes at a time when Uganda is on heightened alert following recent Ebola-related incidents linked to cross-border movement in neighbouring regions, prompting increased screening at health facilities and border points.
Health authorities have repeatedly urged the public to remain calm but vigilant, emphasizing that early detection, isolation, and reporting remain critical in preventing the spread of the virus.
Ebola is a highly infectious and often fatal disease, transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated materials. Uganda has previously experienced outbreaks, including the 2022 Sudan Ebola virus outbreak that significantly affected Mubende and surrounding districts.
Further updates are expected once laboratory results from UVRI are released.
