Uganda has declared itself free of Ebola after its last patient was discharged in mid-June, the Ministry of Health announced Tuesday. The declaration marks the end of an outbreak that began in May and was linked to a larger epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Ugandan health officials, the outbreak arose from a documented importation event. The first cases involved Congolese individuals who crossed the border into Uganda seeking treatment for an undiagnosed illness before it was identified as Ebola.
Congo declared its own Ebola outbreak on May 15, the same day Uganda confirmed its initial cases, including one death. The Ugandan Ministry of Health stated that all identified contacts were quarantined and completed the mandatory 21-day follow-up period without any signs of further transmission. Enhanced surveillance has also detected no unexplained community transmission.
The outbreak in Uganda involved the Bundibugyo type of Ebola virus, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment. The World Health Organization has declared the region's outbreak a global health emergency.
Ugandan health authorities implemented several measures to contain the virus, including advising against handshakes and postponing an annual religious event that attracts pilgrims from Congo and other regions. Public transportation and flights between Uganda and Congo were also suspended.
Meanwhile, the Ebola outbreak continues to be a concern in neighboring Congo, where confirmed cases have reached 3,262, with 1,437 deaths, according to that country's Ministry of Health. This outbreak, though ongoing, is considered the fastest on record, with officials noting it could surpass the previous highest toll in Congo within days. The 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak remains the deadliest on record, with over 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths.
Health officials consider tracing and isolating contacts to be crucial in stopping the spread of Ebola, a disease that typically manifests as hemorrhagic fever. Fruit bats are believed to be the natural hosts of the Ebola viruses, which spread through contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials.