**Uganda Declares Itself Ebola-Free Following Recent Outbreak**
In a significant development, the Ugandan Health Ministry announced on Tuesday that the country is officially free of Ebola, marking the end of a recent outbreak that lasted more than two months. The outbreak, attributed to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, resulted in 20 confirmed cases and two fatalities.
Health officials reported that of the 20 cases identified during this outbreak, 15 were imported from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), while the remaining five were locally acquired. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that there have been no new infections reported since June 21, and a total of 18 patients have successfully recovered from the virus, including four health workers who were among those infected.
The declaration of being Ebola-free was made by Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi, who stated on social media platform X, "Uganda is officially Ebola free." This announcement followed the discharge of the last patient with a locally transmitted infection on June 16, after which the country began a monitoring period.
The monitoring period, which lasted for 42 days, is a standard protocol that the WHO recommends following the discharge of the last confirmed patient. However, the WHO noted that Uganda's countdown for this period should have officially commenced on July 16, after the last patient tested negative twice. The organization emphasized that the outbreak could be declared over if no new cases were reported during that timeframe.
In his statements, Minister Baryomunsi highlighted that this outbreak was distinct from previous ones due to the clear understanding of the source and transmission routes of the imported cases. He noted that all transmission chains were thoroughly documented and that all identified contacts were quarantined and monitored for the mandatory 21-day follow-up period, which concluded without evidence of further transmission.
Despite Uganda's recent success in managing the outbreak, the situation remains critical in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the Health Ministry reported a staggering 3,262 confirmed infections and 1,437 deaths as of Tuesday. The majority of these cases have been concentrated in the war-torn Ituri Province, which shares borders with Uganda and South Sudan, raising concerns about the potential for cross-border transmission.
Uganda has a history of Ebola outbreaks, with its first recorded epidemic occurring in 2000, which resulted in 425 infections and 224 deaths. The most recent outbreak prior to this one involved the Sudan virus and concluded in April 2025, after 14 confirmed and probable cases and four deaths.
The Ugandan government’s proactive measures in response to the outbreak, including the rapid identification and quarantine of contacts, have been credited with controlling the spread of the virus. The Health Ministry's focus on understanding the dynamics of the outbreak has also been a key factor in their success.
As Uganda moves forward from this outbreak, health officials continue to monitor the situation closely, particularly in light of ongoing challenges posed by Ebola in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo. The declaration of being Ebola-free is a positive development for Uganda, but it serves as a reminder of the persistent threat posed by infectious diseases in the region.