The country recorded 20 confirmed infections and two deaths after the outbreak was declared in May
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the Ebola outbreak in Uganda over after the country recorded no new confirmed cases for 42 consecutive days, the UN health agency said on Thursday.
The announcement comes a month after the Ugandan authorities declared the country Ebola-free on July 28, following 42 days without a locally acquired case. The WHO, however, continued monitoring after the last confirmed patient – an imported case from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) – was discharged on July 16. The additional 42-day period, which represents twice the maximum incubation period for Ebola and is the international benchmark for determining that transmission linked to an outbreak has ended, has now passed without further cases.
“Uganda has demonstrated that with decisive action, Ebola outbreaks can be brought under control quickly,” WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said.
Uganda recorded 20 confirmed cases after declaring the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak on May 15. Of these, 15 were linked to infections brought in from neighboring DR Congo, while the remaining five were contracted locally by contacts and healthcare workers. The outbreak resulted in two deaths, while 18 patients recovered. Officials also identified and monitored more than 800 contacts.
“Uganda has shown that Ebola can be stopped when leadership acts decisively, communities are trusted and public health systems reach people quickly,” Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Director-General Jean Kaseya said. “This is a victory for Uganda and an important lesson for our continent.”
The announcement comes as the Ebola outbreak continues in the DR Congo. According to the latest figures from the country’s health authorities, 5,713 confirmed cases have been recorded, including 2,744 deaths, putting the overall fatality rate at 48%.
The outbreak has now affected 58 health zones across six provinces – Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, Bas-Uele and Tshopo. Ituri remains the epicenter, with 28 of its 36 health zones affected. The WHO said earlier this month that the outbreak is the largest ever recorded in the DR Congo, with transmission continuing to outpace containment efforts.
