A number of Americans have reportedly been exposed to the Ebola virus. It comes after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda was declared an emergency of “international concern” by the WHO. Follow the latest on the Ebola outbreak here.ganda cancels Christian celebration and tells pilgrims ‘to go home’
Uganda has asked pilgrims travelling to the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo for Martyrs’ Day to “return home”.
The annual Christian celebrations mark the executions of dozens of Catholic and Anglican converts in the 1880s.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said that after talks with his country’s epidemic task force, the event was postponed.
He went on:
“This decision was made because Uganda receives thousands of pilgrims annually from Eastern Congo, which is currently experiencing an Ebola outbreak. To safeguard everyone’s lives, it is essential that this important event be postponed. I encourage those who have begun their journey to return home.”
However, according to Vatican News, “a sizeable number” of pilgrims have already travelled into the country.
It said they crossed into Uganda on 15 May and are being hosted at a church in the Kasese District.
It added:
“Several additional groups are reported to be en route.”
For context: So far, Uganda has two lab-confirmed cases, which include one death.
The heart of the outbreak is in the Ituri Province, in the DRC, which borders Uganda.
