Uganda’s Ebola Scare Ends After Period of Uncertainty
Uganda has officially brought its latest Ebola outbreak to an end after health authorities confirmed that no new infections were recorded during the mandatory monitoring period set by global health guidelines.
The country’s Health Minister, Chris Baryomunsi, made the declaration on Tuesday, following an outbreak that affected 20 people and resulted in two deaths.
The outbreak, which was announced in May, was linked partly to cases from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, where Ebola continues to pose a major health challenge.
Fifteen of Uganda’s confirmed cases involved people who had connections to the neighbouring country.
According to health officials, 18 patients recovered from the virus and were discharged, while the two people who died were both nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Baryomunsi said Uganda successfully completed the required 42-day surveillance period without recording any new cases, clearing the country to declare the outbreak over.
“Throughout this period the ministry of health maintained intensive surveillance nationwide and no new Ebola cases have been detected,” the minister said.
The final patient in Uganda, a Congolese national, was discharged on June 22. However, the official countdown followed the discharge of the last locally transmitted case on June 16.
Uganda has battled several Ebola outbreaks since the country recorded its first epidemic in 2000.
Health authorities say experience from previous outbreaks has improved the nation’s ability to detect cases early, trace contacts and contain the spread of the disease.
Despite the latest success, officials noted that Uganda remains vulnerable to future outbreaks due to its tropical forest ecosystems, where fruit bats — considered natural reservoirs of the Ebola virus — are found.
Ebola is a severe viral disease transmitted through contact with infected body fluids. Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting and bleeding.
The latest declaration marks the end of weeks of heightened surveillance and response efforts by Ugandan health authorities and international partners.
