Ebola Outbreak in Uganda Shouldn’t be a scare off for your African Safari.

From the recent reports from the Uganda Ministry of health and the World Health Organization that have confirmed an outbreak of Ebola in western Uganda at her boarder with the Democratic Republic of Congo, near Queen Elizabeth national park and legendary Rwenzori ranges. Several tourists have begun showing fear and some are even reconsidering their travel to undertake holiday safaris in Uganda, and the ones that had already booked have started cancelled. Yes, this is a scary scenario that any person conscious of their health would surely fight to death to run away from. However, the Ugandan government together with WHO and the Uganda ministry of health are working tirelessly to contain this outbreak. Its reported that the first case of Ebola tasted positive in a five year boy who had just traveled back from DR Congo; a country that has been hit by Ebola for the last 10 months. He had escorted the mum who had also gone to treat an Ebola victim there. Currently all his family members, relatives and close friends are already vaccinated, others are under in-house treatment. The Uganda’s health ministry and the WHO have already sent a team to western Uganda to trace all the likely cases and vaccinate anyone who might have gotten into contact with the victim. More assuring that this outbreak shouldn’t scare tourists off for their Uganda safaris is that the United States also pledged to support the Uganda government in all aspects to overcome the deadly Ebola virus in its recently released statement. “The United States has strong confidence in the Ugandan government’s ability to respond to the outbreak in coordination with partners.  The U.S. government has invested heavily in Uganda’s preparations to manage Ebola through both technical and financial assistance, and we will continue to provide assistance to prevent the spread of the disease” the US embassy statement reads. Still honorable Kiwanda Godfrey; the state minister of tourism of Uganda confirmed that the index case in Kasese western Uganda is isolated the fact that all the family members and relatives had been traced and housed at treatment centers, until they are treated, tested and approved that they are Ebola free. “The country is safe. There is no cause for alarm or even (to) issue travel advisories. Our tourists and other guests are welcome to Uganda and we can assure them of safety. Whenever such cases arise, we ensure that they are dealt with immediately. We have also been able to trace all the contacts including the parents and other relatives. They are under surveillance by the health ministry.” He said. From the time Ebola hit the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, near Virunga national park, Uganda has been on a high risk. The ministry of health and WHO have been highly alert from last year, no wonder the virus was traced at the very prefix of its emergency. Uganda last had such a case in 2012, and ever since then, the government has been so keen so that the country doesn’t face it again. The Red Cross society has also joined the team in Kasese region, and with no short time, virus will be contained. For clients who are already on their safaris in Uganda can be vaccinated from this virus as well as the ones coming just to assure them of their safety. However, all tourists planning to visit the country shouldn’t be worried, Uganda is still safe for all kinds of travelers.


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