Uganda has started a 42-day countdown toward being declared free of Ebola after discharging its final known patient, health authorities announced Thursday. The countdown follows World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which state that a country can be declared Ebola-free if no new infections are confirmed during the 42-day monitoring period, equivalent to two incubation cycles of the virus. Uganda’s latest Ebola outbreak, declared in May, recorded 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths, while one additional probable case also died. No new cases have been reported since June 21.
According to the WHO, all confirmed infections in Uganda were linked to transmission originating from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including imported cases and secondary spread among contacts and healthcare workers. While Uganda moves closer to ending its outbreak, the situation in the DRC remains a major regional concern. The WHO says the Ebola outbreak there continues to expand, with sustained transmission and a rapid rise in infections.
As of July 11, the DRC had reported more than 2,000 confirmed Ebola cases and over 700 deaths, marking the fastest monthly increase recorded in any Ebola outbreak, according to the WHO. WHO Executive Director Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu warned that the outbreak in the DRC remains highly active, describing the situation as a spreading fire that requires urgent containment efforts. “Over the last few days, we’ve seen some of the highest numbers of new infections in a single day,” he said, noting that more than 80 cases were confirmed within a 24-hour period. Health authorities say continued surveillance, contact tracing and cross-border cooperation will be critical to preventing further spread as Uganda approaches the final stage of its Ebola response.
