Uganda Thursday entered the 42-day countdown to the end of its Ebola outbreak after the last confirmed case tested negative for the virus for a second time and was discharged from care.
The country said this marks an important milestone in its response.
The 42-day countdown, equivalent to two maximum incubation periods for Bundibugyo virus disease, is the established phase before an outbreak can be declared over, provided no new confirmed cases are detected during this period.
Uganda declared the outbreak on 15 May 2026 and as of 16 July 2026, 20 confirmed cases and two deaths have been reported. Fifteen cases were the result of importation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and five were locally aquired.
“It has been two months since we declared the outbreak and we are now celebrating the discharge of the last patient. This shows that Ebola is defeatable if we adhere to measures and establish strong systems,” says Dr Chris Baryomunsi, Minister of Health in Uganda. “I thank all the teams involved, including the health workers and support staff, for the courage, resilience, professionalism and charisma, working 24 hours a day to provide care.”
Since the outbreak was declared,Uganda’s health ministry, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, has implemented an intensive response that included rapid case detection, laboratory testing, contact tracing, infection prevention and control measures, case management, risk communication and community engagement, and cross-border collaboration with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
As of 16 July 2026, all 836 contacts have been followed up, while surveillance systems were strengthened across 36 high-risk districts and at 38 points of entry. Health workers received training and essential medical equipment and supplies to safely identify, isolate and manage suspected cases, helping to limit further transmission.
WN/as/APA