Uganda health workers address Ebola stigma amid outbreak

Uganda’s health ministry announced that it has confirmed a new outbreak of the Sudan‑strain Ebola virus, adding to the 12 cases already reported in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of the latest WHO update, Uganda has recorded 15 laboratory‑confirmed infections and three deaths, while the DRC has reported 12 cases and four fatalities. The cross‑border spread has prompted coordinated surveillance and vaccination efforts, with the World Health Organization deploying rapid‑response teams to both countries to support case detection, contact tracing and safe burial practices.

Beyond clinical treatment, health workers in the affected districts are conducting extensive community‑engagement activities aimed at reducing fear, misinformation and stigma that often impede outbreak control. Teams of nurses, social workers and local volunteers are visiting households, distributing culturally appropriate information sheets, and holding small group dialogues to clarify transmission routes and the availability of free medical care. They are also providing psychosocial support to families of patients, assisting them in navigating quarantine requirements and addressing concerns about social exclusion, which have been documented in previous Ebola responses.

The integrated approach, combining medical response with targeted risk communication, is intended to improve compliance with public‑health measures and limit further spread across the porous Uganda‑DRC border. Officials expect that sustained community outreach, together with ongoing vaccination campaigns, will help contain the outbreak while minimizing the social impact on affected populations.