Uganda has officially declared an end to its Ebola outbreak. This declaration follows 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case of the disease.
This period is twice the maximum incubation time for Ebola. It meets the international standard for confirming that an outbreak's transmission has stopped. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) welcomed the announcement.
The outbreak began on 15 May, with 20 confirmed cases of the Bundibugyo virus. Fifteen of these cases were imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Five cases were acquired locally among contacts and health workers. Eighteen people recovered, while two unfortunately died. More than 800 contacts were identified and closely monitored during the response.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, praised Uganda's quick action. He stated that Uganda showed how quickly an Ebola outbreak can be controlled with decisive action. He emphasized the importance of preparedness, surveillance, and careful management at entry points. These measures protect communities without unnecessarily stopping travel and trade.
H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Africa CDC Director-General, highlighted the importance of strong leadership and community ties. He said Uganda proved that Ebola can be stopped when leaders act decisively. He also noted the success when communities are trusted and public health systems reach people quickly. Uganda's last patient was discharged on 16 July 2026. The country had earlier announced the interruption of local transmission on 28 July.
Despite this success, Dr. Kaseya warned against complacency. An Ebola outbreak continues in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC shares close social and economic ties with Uganda. Frequent movement of people and cross-border trade mean neighbouring countries remain at risk of imported cases. He stressed the need to protect Uganda's achievement while accelerating the response in the DRC. He added that security would only come when transmission stops everywhere.
The outbreak was contained through several key strategies. These included rapid case detection and confirmation, thorough contact tracing, and effective isolation. Clinical care, strengthened infection prevention, and control also played vital roles. Community engagement and disease surveillance in health facilities and at points of entry were crucial. These efforts demonstrate a robust public health response.
WHO continues to advise against travel and trade restrictions for Ebola outbreaks. It does not recommend suspending flights or closing borders. Instead, countries should maintain travel and trade. They should also implement public health measures to detect cases early and strengthen preparedness. This approach aims to minimize economic disruption while safeguarding public health.
For Uganda, ending the outbreak offers an opportunity to maintain the systems developed during the response. Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, noted that the lasting benefit should go beyond ending the immediate outbreak. He said a stronger ability to protect people from future health threats is the true achievement. He cited Uganda's demonstration of what sustained investment in preparedness can achieve.
WHO and Africa CDC are calling for continued disease surveillance and testing capacity. They also urge rapid investigation of alerts and strong infection prevention and control. This applies to both health facilities and communities. Continued engagement with communities and close coordination between countries along shared borders are also essential. Both organizations will support Uganda and the DRC through a joint continental preparedness and response plan. The 42 days without a new confirmed case marks a formal end, but vigilance remains key.