Uganda has announced the end to its recent ebola outbreak in the country. This is coming after 42 days since no new case occurred and three months after the first case was confirmed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) noted about Uganda, ‘the people have shown extraordinary resolve. Uganda’s leadership and resilience were crucial in containing this outbreak’ as the East African country was quick-to-react to the health emergency. Fourteen cases of Ebola were reported in the country, with four deaths recorded.
However, Uganda’s ministry of health acted fast to contain the virus, deploying medical teams to investigate cases, as well as support workers to reduce stigma around the virus.
The ministry said the declaration came after 42 consecutive days without a new case, following the discharge of the last confirmed patient. It did not provide an updated total number of cases, but in early March, the ministry reported at least 10 infections and two deaths.
Ebola outbreaks are frequent in Uganda, where tropical forests serve as natural reservoirs for the virus. The latest outbreak, caused by the Sudan strain—which currently has no approved vaccine—was Uganda’s ninth since its first recorded Ebola case in 2000.