Uganda bans handshakes amid Ebola outbreak concerns

Uganda’s Ministry of Health has introduced a ban on handshakes and other greeting practices that could facilitate the transmission of disease following the confirmation of two Ebola cases. According to Nile Post on Tuesday, Uganda’s Ministry of Health continues to monitor the outbreak dynamics in the country and take the necessary measures to prevent transmission. At present, two Ebola cases have been detected in Uganda, with one of the cases resulting in death. The two individuals are reported to be citizens of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). On Sunday (17 May), the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). According to the latest data from DRC authorities, 131 deaths from the virus have been recorded in that country. Meanwhile, the Ebola outbreak in the DRC previously ended in October 2025. Source: Sputnik.