Uganda declares Ebola outbreak over after 42 days without new case

… Africa CDC, WHO hail rapid response, warn neighbouring countries to remain vigilant
By Chioma Obinna

Uganda has declared the end of its Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo species after completing 42 consecutive days without recording a new confirmed case, marking a major milestone in the country’s response to the deadly viral disease.

The declaration follows the discharge of the country’s last Ebola patient, an imported case, on July 16, 2026. The 42-day monitoring period, equivalent to twice the upper limit of Ebola’s incubation period, was completed without detection of further transmission linked to the case.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) welcomed the development, describing Uganda’s response as an example of how early detection, decisive leadership and strong public health systems can rapidly contain Ebola outbreaks.

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Uganda had demonstrated that Ebola outbreaks could be brought under control quickly when countries prioritise preparedness, surveillance and effective response.

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

He noted that strengthened surveillance in health facilities and communities, coupled with careful management of points of entry, could help countries detect cases early while allowing people and goods to continue moving safely.

Uganda declared the outbreak on May 15, 2026, after confirming Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus. The country recorded 20 confirmed cases, including 15 imported cases from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and five locally acquired infections among contacts and health workers linked to the imported cases.

Of the 20 confirmed cases, 18 people recovered while two died. More than 800 contacts were identified and monitored during the response.

Uganda announced the interruption of local transmission on July 28 after completing 42 days without a new locally acquired case. Surveillance and other outbreak control measures continued following the discharge of the last imported case on July 16, providing an additional period to detect any possible missed chains of transmission.

The Director-General of Africa CDC, H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, described the development as both a victory for Uganda and an important lesson for Africa.

“Uganda has shown that Ebola can be stopped when leadership acts decisively, communities are trusted and public health systems reach people quickly,” Kaseya said.

He, however, warned that the milestone should not lead to complacency, particularly as Ebola transmission continues in the DRC.

“We must now protect this achievement while accelerating the response in the DRC. We will only be secure when transmission is stopped everywhere,” he added.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, said the end of the outbreak was important but stressed that the long-term benefit should be a stronger capacity to respond to future health emergencies.

“Ending an Ebola outbreak is an important milestone, but the lasting achievement is a stronger ability to protect people from future health threats,” Janabi said.

The Ugandan response included early case detection and confirmation, contact tracing, isolation and clinical care, infection prevention and control, community engagement and intensified surveillance at health facilities and points of entry.

However, public health authorities say the risk of imported cases remains, given the close social and economic ties between Uganda and the DRC, frequent population movement and cross-border trade.
WHO further advised against blanket travel or trade restrictions because of Ebola outbreaks.

It does not recommend suspending flights, closing borders or denying entry to travellers from affected countries.

Instead, countries are encouraged to maintain international travel and trade while implementing proportionate public health measures, including enhanced surveillance, rapid investigation of alerts, testing and cross-border coordination.

Africa CDC and WHO have called for continued investment in outbreak preparedness across the region, including disease surveillance and testing capacity, rapid alert investigation, strong infection prevention and control in health facilities and communities, sustained community engagement and close operational coordination across borders.

Both organisations said they would continue supporting Uganda and the DRC under a joint continental preparedness and response plan, with stopping Ebola transmission in the DRC remaining a priority for protecting communities across the region.

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