KAMPALA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has assured tourists that there is no cause for fear following the Ebola outbreak in the east African country.
Godfrey Kiwanda, minister of state for tourism told Xinhua in an interview on Wednesday that the index case in the western district of Kasese is isolated and that all the family members and relatives have been traced.
"The country is safe. There is no cause for alarm or even (to) issue travel advisories. Our tourists and other guests are welcome to Uganda and we can assure them of safety," he said.
"Whenever such cases arise, we ensure that they are dealt with immediately. We have also been able to trace all the contacts including the parents and other relatives. They are under surveillance by the health ministry," the minister added.
He said the country has capacity to contain the outbreak.
Uganda's ministry of health on Tuesday announced that Ebola had broken out in Kasese after tests from a five-year old boy turned positive.
The boy had traveled back from Ebola-hit eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where he had gone with his mother to nurse a relative who had succumbed to Ebola.
Tour operators in the country have expressed concern that they may suffer losses if tourists cancel their travels following the outbreak.
Ebola last broke out in Uganda in 2012, leaving over 20 people dead.
