Uganda has successfully managed its Ebola cases, releasing its last patient from hospital two weeks ago, a stark contrast to the ongoing and worsening outbreak in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The DRC's epidemic, declared in May, has surpassed 1,500 official deaths and is spreading at an alarming rate, according to authorities.
In Uganda, only 20 cases and two deaths were recorded. World Health Organization Uganda chief Dr. Kasonde Mwinga attributed this success not to chance, but to significant investment in preparedness. "It's because people invested in preparedness," she told the BBC.
This latest outbreak is the 17th in the DRC since Ebola was discovered 50 years ago. Uganda, however, has learned from its own nine outbreaks since 2000. Government spokesperson Alan Kasujja stated, "We know Ebola. It's been here a few times, we know how to deal with it."
Lessons from past encounters with the virus have informed Uganda's response. In 2011, a 12-year-old girl presenting with symptoms was immediately isolated at a hospital in Luwero. Medics used personal protective equipment, and precautions were taken when she died hours later, successfully halting the spread of the virus, which was later confirmed by blood samples.
Uganda's first case in the current outbreak was a man who traveled from the DRC for treatment. Upon confirmation of multiple imported cases, a specialized Ebola treatment center at Mulago hospital in Kampala was activated. This facility, previously used for an outbreak last year, had existing medical supplies and an emergency medical team on standby. Dr. David Kaggwa, head of the facility, noted, "It was a matter of sorting and ordering a few more supplies, and then actually in one day we were ready to receive the patients. So, it is easy, it's not that we're starting from scratch."