WHO declares Uganda Ebola-free after 42 days without new case

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📻 Breaking It Down

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) welcomed the milestone on Thursday, saying the completion of the 42-day monitoring period provides an additional safeguard that no chains of transmission linked to the country’s last case have been missed.

The period is equivalent to twice the upper limit of the Ebola incubation period and is the internationally established benchmark for determining that transmission linked to an outbreak has ended.

Uganda’s last patient, an imported case, was discharged from care on July 16. The country had earlier announced the interruption of local transmission on July 28 after completing 42 days without a locally acquired case.

📌 What You Need to Know

“Uganda has demonstrated that with decisive action, Ebola outbreaks can be brought under control quickly,” Tedros said.

The outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026, after Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus was detected in Uganda.

According to WHO, Uganda recorded twenty confirmed cases, including fifteen imported cases from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and five locally acquired infections among contacts and health workers linked to imported cases.

Eighteen patients recovered while two died, with more than 800 contacts identified and monitored.

The successful containment was attributed to early case detection and confirmation, contact tracing, isolation and clinical care, infection prevention measures, community engagement and strengthened surveillance at health facilities and points of entry.

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya described the milestone as an important lesson for the continent, while warning that Uganda’s success must be protected as Ebola transmission continues in neighbouring DRC.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya

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