Additional Coverage:
KAMPALA, Uganda – Ugandan authorities have officially declared the country free of Ebola following the discharge of the last patient in mid-June, marking a significant achievement amid the ongoing outbreak in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Uganda’s recent Ebola cases were linked to the larger epidemic in eastern Congo’s Ituri province, which borders Uganda. Initial cases in Uganda involved Congolese nationals who crossed the border seeking treatment for an unidentified illness before it was confirmed as Ebola. After several weeks of transmission, Congo announced its outbreak on May 15-the same day Uganda confirmed two cases, including one fatality.
In total, Uganda reported 20 cases but health officials say there is currently no evidence of further spread within the country. The last patient was released on June 16, and Ugandan health authorities observed the World Health Organization’s recommended 42-day waiting period-equivalent to two full Ebola incubation cycles-before declaring the outbreak over.
According to the Ugandan Health Ministry, this outbreak stemmed from a well-documented importation event, unlike previous local outbreaks. The ministry emphasized that all identified contacts underwent institutional quarantine and completed the mandatory 21-day follow-up without any new transmissions. Enhanced surveillance also found no unexplained community cases.
The Ebola strain responsible for the outbreak is the Bundibugyo virus, which currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. The epidemic in the region has been classified as a global health emergency.
Uganda’s swift and decisive response helped contain the outbreak. Following the initial case confirmations, the president urged citizens to stop shaking hands and postponed an annual religious pilgrimage near Kampala that attracts thousands, including visitors from Congo. Additional measures included suspending public transportation and flights between Uganda and Congo.
Meanwhile, the situation remains grave in Congo, where confirmed Ebola cases have surpassed 3,200, with over 1,400 deaths reported. This outbreak is considered the fastest spreading on record and is expected to soon exceed the country’s previous highest toll, which took two years to reach. The only larger Ebola outbreak was the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic, which resulted in more than 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths.
Challenges in Congo include limited access to affected communities, some of which have been abandoned by responders due to safety concerns amid attacks by local residents and rebel groups. Effective tracing and isolation of contacts remain critical to halting transmission of the virus, which typically presents as hemorrhagic fever.
The World Health Organization identifies fruit bats as the natural reservoir for Ebola viruses, which spread through contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.