Uganda has officially declared the end of its latest Ebola outbreak, three months after the virus resurfaced in the capital city of Kampala. The announcement came on Saturday, with the Ministry of Health confirming that the country had gone 42 days without recording a new case since the last patient was discharged.
“Good news! The current Ebola Sudan Virus Disease outbreak has officially come to an end,” the ministry posted on X (formerly Twitter), celebrating the milestone. While the latest caseload was not detailed in the announcement, earlier reports from March indicated at least ten confirmed cases, with two fatalities.
This outbreak was driven by the Sudan strain of the virus, a variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine. Uganda has faced frequent Ebola outbreaks, largely due to its expansive tropical forests, which serve as natural reservoirs for the virus. Since first detecting Ebola within its borders in 2000, Uganda has battled nine outbreaks, leveraging its growing expertise to respond swiftly and effectively.
The recent outbreak’s origin in Kampala, a bustling city of around four million people and a major transport hub connecting Uganda to neighboring countries like Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, had initially raised significant alarm. Health experts feared the virus could spread rapidly due to the city’s dense population and interconnectedness.
However, Uganda’s swift containment of the disease has been praised. Over the years, the country has developed strong surveillance, testing, and rapid response systems, honed through previous Ebola crises.
Ebola is a highly infectious disease transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids or tissues of infected individuals. It causes severe symptoms including fever, muscle pains, vomiting blood, and internal bleeding. Fatality rates can be extremely high, depending on the strain and the timeliness of medical intervention.
Neighboring the Democratic Republic of Congo which suffered a devastating outbreak between 2018 and 2020 that claimed nearly 2,300 lives Uganda remains on high alert for future occurrences. Nonetheless, the successful containment of the latest outbreak reinforces Uganda’s reputation as one of Africa’s leaders in epidemic response.
Health officials continue to urge vigilance and rapid reporting of any suspected cases to prevent future flare-ups.
