Uganda’s Ministry of Health has announced that travelers leaving the country are not required to present an ebola-free certificate and such documents are not required for visa application to any destination.
The ministry’s warning comes amid reports that some countries have imposed travel restrictions on travelers arriving from or departing Uganda following the ebola outbreak in the East African country.
“The Ministry of Health wishes to inform the public that travelers departing from Uganda do not require an Ebola-Free Certificate and such certificates are not a requirement for visa applications to any country,” Director General of Health Services Charles Olaro was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
The ministry also urged the public to remain vigilant and avoid falling victim to fraudsters claiming to provide Ebola testing or certificates to facilitate travel, employment or visa processing.
According to the latest Ministry of Health and World Health Organization figures, Uganda has recorded 19 confirmed cases, including two deaths, and one probable death.
Of the confirmed cases, 14 were imported from DRC, while five resulted from secondary transmission among contacts and healthcare workers.
The cases have been confined to Kampala and Wakiso districts, with authorities reporting no documented community transmission.
Uganda has also registered five recoveries, and no new case or death had been reported in recent days.
The ministry stressed that Ebola testing is conducted strictly according to public health guidelines and is only recommended for symptomatic individuals or identified contacts of confirmed cases.
MG/as/APA