Uganda has begun the official 42-day countdown towards being declared Ebola-free after discharging its last remaining Ebola patient.
The patient was released on Thursday after testing negative for the virus for a second consecutive time. Under World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, if no new cases are recorded within 42 days—equivalent to two maximum incubation periods for the Bundibugyo virus—the outbreak can officially be declared over.
The WHO described the development as “an important milestone in the country’s response” to the outbreak.
Uganda declared the Ebola outbreak on May 15. Since then, the country has recorded 20 confirmed cases and two deaths.
According to the WHO, 15 cases involved people infected in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who later travelled to Uganda, while five infections were locally transmitted.
Uganda’s Minister of Health, Chris Baryomunsi, said the discharge of the last patient demonstrates that Ebola can be defeated when strong health systems are in place.
WHO Representative in Uganda, Kasonde Mwinga, praised the country’s leadership, healthcare workers, case investigation teams, communities and partners for their collective efforts in interrupting transmission.
Despite the positive development, the WHO warned that the Ebola outbreak has intensified in parts of the DRC and urged Uganda to maintain the highest level of vigilance throughout the 42-day monitoring period.
