By Destiny Obinna
Uganda has officially declared an end to its Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus after completing 42 consecutive days without recording a new confirmed case, as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) hailed the country’s rapid containment of the disease.
The declaration followed the discharge of Uganda’s last Ebola patient, an imported case, on July 16, 2026. The subsequent 42-day monitoring period, equivalent to twice the upper limit of Ebola’s incubation period, ended without detection of further transmission linked to the case.
The Africa CDC and WHO described Uganda’s response as a demonstration of how decisive leadership, early detection, effective surveillance and strong public health systems can prevent wider transmission of Ebola.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the experience showed that Ebola outbreaks could be brought under control quickly when countries invest in preparedness, and respond decisively.
“Uganda has demonstrated that with decisive action, Ebola outbreaks can be brought under control quickly,” Tedros said.
According to him, increased surveillance in health facilities and communities, alongside careful management of points of entry, could enable countries to detect potential cases early while keeping people and goods 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 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. Outbreak control measures, including surveillance, continued after the last imported patient was discharged on July 16.
The additional monitoring period provided further assurance that no transmission chain associated with the imported case had been missed.
Director-General of Africa CDC, H.E. Dr Jean Kaseya, described the development as a victory for Uganda and an important 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, warned against 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 should translate into stronger preparedness against 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.
Uganda’s response included early detection and confirmation of cases, contact tracing, isolation and clinical care, infection prevention and control, community engagement and strengthened surveillance at health facilities and points of entry.
Despite the declaration, the risk of imported Ebola cases remains because of the close social and economic ties between Uganda and the DRC, frequent population movement and cross-border trade.
WHO has advised countries against imposing blanket travel or trade restrictions in response to Ebola outbreaks. The global health body 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 collaboration.
Africa CDC and WHO have called for continued investment in outbreak preparedness across the region, including surveillance and testing capacity, rapid investigation of alerts, 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 the governments of Uganda and the DRC under a joint continental preparedness and response plan.
They stressed that stopping Ebola transmission in the DRC remains a central priority to protect communities across the region and prevent further cross-border spread.
