Then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton avoided shaking hands with an African world leader due to fear of spreading Ebola in August 2012, more than two years before the U.S. federal government outlined its Ebola response.
Two days after Clinton’s visit to Ebola-stricken Uganda and six other African nations, the health arm of the United Nations assured the public that Ebola was under control.
“No handshake because of Ebola out brake,” read the photo caption on the official Ugandan government news article detailing Clinton’s visit to the Entebbe State House on Aug. 2, 2012. Clinton was welcomed to the State House by Uganda President Yoweri Museveni.
Officials confirmed the existence of Ebola in Uganda on July 28, 2012, and the virus claimed at least 16 lives in the country by Aug. 6.
Clinton’s visit to Uganda reportedly focused on energy, economic and security issues. No contemporaneous reports noted any interest in Clinton’s part on the nation’s Ebola outbreak, its fourth.
The United Nations’ health arm the World Health Organization (WHO) said that the outbreak was under control.
“The structure put in place is more than adequate,” said WHO Uganda representative Joaquim Saweka two days after Clinton left the country. “We are isolating the suspected or confirmed cases.”
Two Ugandan medical doctors have died treating patients in nearby countries during the current Ebola outbreak ravaging Africa.