Uganda declared Ebola-free after 42 days without new case
In a statement released today (August 27), the Africa CDC and WHO yesterday welcomed the end of the outbreak, saying completion of the 42-day period provides an additional safeguard that no transmission chains associated with the last case have been missed.
The declaration follows the discharge of Uganda's last Ebola patient, an imported case, from care on July 16, 2026. (WHO-Africa courtesy photo)
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have declared Uganda free of the latest Ebola outbreak after the country completed 42 consecutive days without recording a new confirmed case, marking the end of transmission of the deadly Ebola Bundibugyo virus.
The declaration follows the discharge of Uganda's last Ebola patient, an imported case, from care on July 16, 2026. Since then, there has been no onward transmission documented from the patient during the subsequent monitoring period.
In a statement released today (August 27), the Africa CDC and WHO yesterday welcomed the end of the outbreak, saying completion of the 42-day period provides an additional safeguard that no transmission chains associated with the last case have been missed.
The 42-day period is the internationally recognised benchmark for declaring that the transmission linked to an Ebola outbreak has ended because it is twice the upper limit of the virus' incubation period.
The WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Uganda's experience demonstrates that Ebola outbreaks can be brought under control quickly when countries act decisively.
“Uganda has demonstrated that with decisive action, Ebola outbreaks can be brought under control quickly,” Ghebreyesus said.
He attributed Uganda's quick response to preparedness, increased surveillance to detect potential cases in health facilities and communities, and careful management of points of entry.
Of the 20 cases, 15 were imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while five were locally acquired among contacts and health workers linked to imported cases.
A total of 18 patients recovered while two people died. More than 800 contacts were identified and monitored during the outbreak.
Uganda had 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 patient.
Africa CDC Director General Dr Jean Kaseya described the development as a victory for Uganda and a lesson for the continent.
“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, urged Uganda and other countries to protect the gains made while supporting efforts to stop transmission in the DRC.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, said ending the outbreak was an important milestone, but the lasting achievement should be Uganda's strengthened ability to respond to future health threats.
“Uganda has shown what sustained investment in preparedness can deliver,” Janabi said.
The end of the outbreak now allows Uganda to transition from an intensive emergency response to risk-based readiness, although health authorities and partners are expected to maintain surveillance and the capacity to rapidly investigate suspected cases.
WHO and Africa CDC have called for continued disease surveillance and testing capacity, rapid investigation of alerts, strong infection prevention and control in health facilities and communities, sustained community engagement and close coordination across borders.
The organisations said vigilance remains important because Ebola transmission is continuing in neighbouring areas of the DRC, creating a continuing risk of imported cases.
WHO has advised countries against imposing blanket travel and trade restrictions because of Ebola and instead encouraged proportionate public health measures that support early detection, preparedness and cross-border collaboration.
Uganda's Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine said Uganda had learnt from successive outbreaks and that its systems were becoming more flexible and responsive.
“Every time we get these outbreaks, our systems get better and better,” she said.