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Uganda Ebola-Free: WHO Confirms End of Outbreak
27 Aug
Summary
- Uganda officially declared Ebola-free by WHO after 42-day monitoring period.
- The outbreak recorded 20 infections and two deaths in Uganda.
- Uganda collaborates with DRC on cross-border Ebola treatment centers.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared Uganda free of Ebola. This confirmation came after the East African nation successfully completed a mandatory 42-day monitoring period without any new cases. The announcement was made at a joint press conference with Uganda's Ministry of Health.
Uganda had previously declared its local outbreak over based on its own transmission dynamics, with the last confirmed case on June 21. The outbreak resulted in 20 infections and two fatalities. The final patient was discharged on July 16, leading the Health Ministry to formally end the outbreak on July 28.
In contrast, the Ebola outbreak in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is ongoing, with 5,656 confirmed cases and 2,715 deaths as of August 25. Ituri province remains the epicenter. Uganda shares a long border with the DRC and is actively supporting cross-border containment efforts.
Uganda is enhancing its support for the DRC by opening two additional Ebola treatment centers, bringing its total contribution to four. Discussions between Ugandan and Congolese officials are ongoing to strengthen bilateral health security agreements. Uganda has called for increased mobilization of resources from the WHO and Africa CDC to combat the virus.
