Daijiworld Media Network - Kampala
Kampala, July 28: Uganda's Ministry of Health on Tuesday officially declared an end to the 2026 Ebola outbreak, saying epidemiological investigations had confirmed that transmission of the virus had been interrupted.
Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi announced that the country was now free of Ebola.
"The Ministry of Health is pleased to announce that Uganda has officially declared the end of the 2026 Ebola disease outbreak. Today, Uganda is Ebola-free," he said in a statement.
The declaration came before the completion of the World Health Organization's (WHO) standard 42-day countdown following the discharge of the last Ebola patient. Uganda discharged its final patient on July 16 after the individual tested negative for the virus.
The ministry said the decision was based on the identification of the outbreak's source, the complete reconstruction of transmission chains, epidemiological linkage of all confirmed cases, successful follow-up of all identified contacts, and enhanced nationwide surveillance that detected no further community transmission.
It said that while the WHO's 42-day criterion remains an important safeguard when transmission is uncertain or ongoing, it should not be the sole basis for declaring an outbreak over when an imported outbreak has been fully characterised and epidemiological evidence confirms that transmission has ended.
The ministry said Uganda would continue strengthening surveillance, maintaining preparedness, particularly in border districts, and working closely with neighbouring countries. It also assured residents, visitors and investors that the country remained safe and open for business, tourism and other socio-economic activities.
Uganda declared the outbreak on May 15 after confirming an imported Ebola case from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country recorded 20 confirmed cases, including 18 recoveries and two deaths.
According to the WHO, Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that spreads from infected wild animals to humans and then through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids or contaminated materials of infected individuals.