Uganda has taken a significant step towards ending its latest Ebola outbreak after discharging its last remaining patient, marking the start of the country’s 42-day countdown to being declared Ebola-free.
Gatekeepers News reports that the patient was released on Thursday after testing negative for the virus for a second consecutive time. Under World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, a country can be declared Ebola-free if no new cases are recorded within 42 days, equivalent to two maximum incubation periods for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
Describing the development as a major breakthrough, the WHO said it represents “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, including two deaths.
According to the WHO, 15 of the confirmed infections involved people who contracted the virus in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) before travelling to Uganda, while the remaining five cases resulted from local transmission.
Uganda’s Minister of Health, Chris Baryomunsi, said the recovery and discharge of the last patient demonstrated that Ebola outbreaks can be overcome with strong public health systems and coordinated interventions.
Kasonde Mwinga, the WHO Representative in Uganda, credited the progress to the commitment of the country’s leadership, healthcare workers, disease surveillance teams, local communities and development partners who worked together to halt transmission.
Despite the encouraging milestone, the WHO warned that the outbreak has intensified in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo, increasing the risk of cross-border transmission.
The organisation urged Ugandan authorities to maintain the “highest level of vigilance” throughout the 42-day monitoring period to ensure that no new infections emerge before the country can officially be declared Ebola-free.
