The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared Uganda free of Ebola after the East African country completed the required 42-day monitoring period without recording a new case.

Uganda’s Ebola outbreak has officially been declared over, with the WHO confirming that the country completed 42 consecutive days without a new transmission.

The announcement was made Tuesday during a joint press briefing held by the WHO and Uganda’s Ministry of Health.

Uganda recorded its last confirmed Ebola case on June 21. After completing the required 42-day period without another case, the country was officially declared Ebola-free.

Uganda reported 20 infections

Uganda reported a total of 20 Ebola infections during the outbreak. Two people died from the virus.

The WHO’s declaration came approximately one month after Uganda’s local health authorities had already announced that the outbreak had ended.

Health authorities credited measures including case detection, contact tracing and infection prevention and control efforts with helping bring the outbreak under control.

Regional Ebola risk remains

Although Uganda has now been declared Ebola-free, the threat of Ebola transmission in East Africa has not disappeared.

The situation remains particularly concerning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where Ebola cases have continued to rise.

The WHO and health authorities across the region are maintaining disease surveillance and preparedness measures to detect new cases quickly and prevent potential cross-border transmission.

Uganda’s Ebola-free declaration represents a significant public health milestone, but health officials continue to stress the importance of maintaining surveillance and preparedness against future outbreaks.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) / Uganda Ministry of Health