Uganda has ended its latest Ebola outbreak after 42 days without a new case, but health authorities warn of continued regional risks from the DRC….reports Africa Daily News Desk
Uganda has declared the end of its latest Ebola outbreak after going 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case, marking a major milestone in efforts to contain the deadly disease.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) confirmed the development on Thursday after Uganda’s last Ebola patient was discharged from treatment.
The 42-day period is equivalent to twice the upper limit of Ebola’s incubation period. Health authorities consider the period without a new confirmed infection a critical stage in establishing that transmission linked to the final known case has been interrupted.
The outbreak was officially declared on May 15, with Uganda recording 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths.
Of the confirmed cases, 15 were imported from neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), while five were locally acquired among contacts and health workers linked to those imported infections.
WHO said Uganda was able to contain the outbreak and prevent wider transmission through rapid action, strong government leadership and coordinated public health measures.
These included identifying and confirming suspected cases, tracing people who had been in contact with infected individuals, isolating patients and providing clinical care.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Uganda’s response, saying the country had demonstrated how decisive action could bring an Ebola outbreak under control quickly.
He also stressed the importance of preparedness and surveillance, particularly at health facilities, in communities and at points of entry.
The response is intended to ensure that countries can maintain movement of people and goods while reducing the risk of infections spreading across borders.
Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya also described the declaration as an important achievement for Uganda and a lesson for other countries on the continent.
He said Ebola could be contained when governments act decisively, communities are involved and health systems are able to reach people quickly.
However, health authorities warned that the end of the outbreak in Uganda does not remove the wider regional threat.
Ebola continues to affect parts of the DRC, which shares a border and close social and economic links with Uganda. Frequent movement of people and cross-border trade mean neighbouring countries remain vulnerable to imported infections.
Africa CDC and WHO said they would continue working with both Uganda and the DRC under a joint continental preparedness and response plan.
The agencies said stopping transmission in the DRC remained a central priority, given the potential for the virus to cross borders and trigger new outbreaks.
WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Janabi said the organisation would continue supporting Uganda and its partners to preserve the progress achieved during the outbreak and protect communities.
The declaration also highlights the importance of maintaining surveillance after an outbreak has officially ended. Health authorities must continue monitoring for suspected infections and be prepared to respond quickly if a new case is detected.
The WHO and Africa CDC stressed that the regional response would remain focused on preventing further spread while strengthening preparedness in countries at risk of imported cases.
For Uganda, the declaration represents a significant public health achievement after a rapid response that contained infections largely linked to imported cases.
But with Ebola still present in the wider region, health officials have cautioned that vigilance, cross-border cooperation and strong disease surveillance will remain essential to preventing another outbreak.
