No new Ebola case in Uganda in past 10 days
Speaking after the meeting, Olaro emphasised that Uganda's success in slowing the Ebola transmission could only be sustained through close cooperation with the neighbouring DRC.
Ugandan and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) health officials in a group photo after a two-day meeting in Aru town in the DRC. (Courtesy photo)
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Uganda has gone 10 consecutive days without recording a new Ebola infection, a development health authorities said reflects the impact of intensified surveillance, contact tracing and cross-border collaboration, which form part of the efforts to contain the disease.
The milestone comes as Ugandan and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) health officials conclude a two-day meeting in Aru town in the DRC aimed at strengthening coordination ahead of the launch of a joint Ebola response plan.
Led by Dr. Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services, the meeting brought together health authorities and partners from both countries to assess response efforts and develop strategies to prevent further transmission, particularly in border communities around Lake Albert, where the outbreak has had the greatest impact.
"We need to see how we end the current outbreak of Ebola, and as you clearly know, so far we have reported cases in the two countries. Even if we, as Uganda, are able to control the outbreak here, if it is not controlled on the other side, we will still not be safe," Olaro said, adding that; "I think we need to be able to see how we collaborate and how we share information but also how we build capacity, not only for the current outbreak but also going forward."
Ebola broke out in eastern DRC in early May this year, prompting the World Health Organisation to declare it an international emergency on May 17.
The Ugandan delegation visited key facilities in Aru, including a hospital and a designated point of entry, to assess the preparedness and identify areas that require strengthening before the joint response plan is formally launched.
Uganda has seven recoveries
According to the latest Ebola situation report released today (June 15), the confirmed cases in Uganda remain 19, with 14 classified as imported cases and five resulting from local transmission.
The Ministry of Health also listed 826 contacts linked to confirmed cases since the outbreak began. Of these, 582 contacts have successfully completed the mandatory 21-day follow-up period, while 233 others remain under active monitoring.
Uganda has conducted 1,395 Ebola tests during the outbreak, as surveillance teams continue screening travellers at border points. Olaro warned members of the public against using unofficial border crossing points, noting that early detection remains crucial in preventing severe illness and stopping transmission.
"I want to call upon the public that if there are people crossing, they should not use porous borders. They should use the official points of entry so that they can be identified earlier," he said.
He urged communities to remain vigilant despite the absence of new cases over the past 10 days. "We still need to prevent, wash our hands and be able to identify those who have had exposure much earlier," he added.
The Joint Ebola Response Plan expected to be deployed in the DRC in the coming days is intended to strengthen information sharing, harmonise surveillance systems and improve emergency response capacities on both sides of the border.