Uganda Declares End to Latest Ebola Outbreak After Three Months

KAMPALA, Uganda – Uganda declared the end of its latest Ebola outbreak on April 26, less than three months after cases were confirmed in the capital, Kampala. The announcement came from the Ministry of Health, which noted 42 days had passed without a new case since the last confirmed patient was discharged.

The outbreak began on January 30, when a male nurse tested positive for the virus and later died. During this outbreak, Uganda reported 14 cases, with 12 confirmed and two classified as probable. Four deaths occurred, including two confirmed and two probable cases, while ten people recovered from the virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng stated that infections were recorded across seven districts and three cities during the outbreak. The rapid response to the outbreak was facilitated by Uganda’s history of dealing with Ebola, as the country has faced multiple outbreaks since its first case in 2000.

WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Uganda’s health ministry for its leadership and quick response in controlling the outbreak. “Congratulations to the government and health workers of Uganda on ending the Ebola outbreak,” he said.

The Ebola strain that emerged was of the Sudan virus subtype, for which there is currently no approved vaccine. Health experts highlighted Uganda’s robust health systems and surveillance measures as key factors in ending the outbreak promptly.

Despite the outbreak being over, authorities will continue to focus on surveillance and preparedness to ensure the country remains safe from future incidents of the disease. Dr. Kasonde Mwinga, WHO’s representative in Uganda, stated that the country’s resilience was crucial in containing the outbreak.