Somalia quarantines 10 Nationals returning from DR Congo over Ebola fears

Somalia’s Ministry of Health and Human Services has quarantined 10 Somali nationals who recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after they were identified as having travelled through Uganda amid concerns over a possible Ebola outbreak.

In a public statement issued on October 12, 2026, the ministry said the individuals had been placed under quarantine at the National Ebola Treatment and Isolation Centre in Mogadishu for monitoring and assessment.

The ministry said the group had been “identified through health surveillance measures introduced following reports of Ebola cases in the region” . Somalia’s International Health Regulations (IHR) focal point was officially notified of the outbreak in Uganda on October 10, 2026.

According to the statement, the 10 Somali nationals entered Uganda from the DRC before travelling onwards. Two of them reportedly stayed at a hotel, while the others travelled by taxi to Entebbe International Airport.

Two members of the group subsequently travelled to Nairobi before proceeding to Mogadishu. The remaining individuals travelled directly to Mogadishu from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The ministry said Kenyan nationals who had travelled through Kenya were also identified and assessed by Kenyan health authorities on October 5, 2026, with no evidence of the disease reported in the statement.

Health authorities intensify surveillance

Somalia’s Ministry of Health said it had activated its emergency response measures in coordination with the Ministry of Internal Security, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Somalia National Institute of Health (NIH).

The measures include quarantine, medical monitoring and laboratory testing to establish whether the individuals have contracted Ebola.

The ministry also said it had deployed a team to the National Ebola Treatment and Isolation Centre in Mogadishu to assess the situation and ensure that appropriate medical and public health procedures were followed.

Health officials have also been monitoring the travellers’ movements and contacts to establish whether other people may have been exposed.

The ministry said surveillance teams had been instructed to remain vigilant and strengthen monitoring at points of entry, including airports, to prevent the possible spread of the disease.

The ministry has urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with health authorities, stressing that quarantine is a preventive public health measure and does not necessarily mean that an individual has contracted Ebola.

It called on anyone who may have travelled with the affected individuals or had contact with them to report relevant information to health officials.

Members of the public can contact the ministry through the national emergency hotline 995 or WhatsApp number +252 61 022 4623.

The ministry further advised people to avoid spreading unverified information and to follow official public health guidance.

Ebola is a serious infectious disease that can cause severe illness and death. Health authorities rely on early detection, isolation, contact tracing and infection prevention measures to limit transmission.

The ministry said it would continue monitoring the situation and provide further updates as necessary.

Mustaqbal