Russia Sends Ebola Specialists to Uganda

Russia is deploying a team of epidemiology specialists to Uganda to help combat the growing Ebola outbreak spreading across parts of central Africa.

Russia’s federal consumer protection agency announced that the mission comes in response to the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in Democratic Republic of the Congo and confirmed infections reported in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.

According to the agency, Russian experts will conduct an epidemiological investigation in Uganda at the request of local authorities and provide logistical support to the Ugandan Health Ministry.

Moscow also plans to deliver Ebola diagnostic tests developed by Russian scientific institutions and currently used inside Russia.

Russian epidemiologist Gennady Onishchenko urged Russian citizens to avoid travel to unfamiliar countries affected by the outbreak, warning that Ebola remains highly dangerous and rapidly transmissible.

The deployment comes after the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern.

Health officials reported around 80 suspected deaths linked to Ebola in Congo as of Saturday, alongside one confirmed death in Uganda.