• WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visits Uganda, praising its Ebola response.
• Uganda has confirmed 19 Ebola cases; 14 were imported from the DRC.
• Calls for Uganda to reopen borders with DRC to alleviate economic impacts.

During a recent visit to Uganda, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended the country's effective response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak which has spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Tedros stated that "the success rate in managing Ebola in Uganda has been good," highlighting efforts such as border screening that helped identify 19 confirmed cases, including 14 from DRC, and two fatalities linked to the virus, according to South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Africa News.

In his statements, Tedros praised Uganda for its "prompt and capable response" and noted the importance of the country continuing its collaboration with DRC to contain the disease. However, he also urged Uganda to ease its border restrictions with DRC, arguing that such measures could negatively impact the local economy and trade relations, as the DRC is experiencing heightened humanitarian issues due to ongoing conflict and the health crisis, reports South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, and Africa News.

The DRC has witnessed a significant number of Ebola cases, with 544 confirmed and 88 deaths reported as of recent updates. This outbreak has raised concerns regarding both health and humanitarian crises in the region. Tedros emphasized that the economic effects of border closures should be carefully considered while addressing public health needs, stating “there is no need for restrictions since they affect the economy,” according to South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.

Furthermore, the WHO has supported Uganda in training health workers and setting up necessary infrastructure to combat the outbreak, including new laboratories for testing. The organization has launched a $518 million plan aimed at addressing the Ebola situation over the coming months, indicating a strong commitment to managing the crisis effectively, according to Africa News.