Uganda Discharges Last Ebola Patient, Begins 42-Day Countdown to Official Victory
Uganda has discharged its last known Ebola patient, marking a significant milestone in the fight against the deadly virus. The country now enters a 42-day countdown before it can officially be declared Ebola-free, provided no new infections emerge.
Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said on Wednesday that the milestone demonstrates that 'with early detection, prompt treatment and a strong health system, Ebola can be defeated.' The ministry, however, urged the public to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical care if symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding occur.
Uganda recorded a total of 20 confirmed cases in this outbreak, mostly among visitors from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Two deaths were reported. The country has experienced several Ebola outbreaks over the past two decades and has established robust protocols, including isolation of suspected cases, contact tracing, and targeted public health messaging.
The outbreak in Uganda was linked to a larger and more severe epidemic in the DRC, where more than 2,000 confirmed infections and 796 deaths have been recorded, according to government data. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the true number of infections in the DRC could be four times higher than reported, as many cases go undetected. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that about two-thirds of deaths in the DRC occur in communities, among people who never receive care in a health facility.
The current strain in the DRC is the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. Health workers in the DRC face challenges including insufficient beds, limited contact tracing and testing, and suspicion from local communities in a region affected by armed conflict.
The WHO has appealed for $115 million to tackle the outbreak but has only received $45 million so far. 'This is not charity, it's an investment in national security,' Tedros said, urging donor countries to increase funding.
In response to the situation, the United States has announced that citizens who have been in the DRC and wish to return home must spend 21 days in a third country before being allowed entry. Previously, they could enter at select airports after undergoing screening. The new rule could affect recruitment of US medical personnel willing to work in Ebola-affected areas, according to Franklin Graham, CEO of an organisation that runs Ebola treatment centres.
Ebola is caused by a virus that attacks the immune system and organs. It normally infects animals, typically fruit bats, but outbreaks among humans can start when people handle infected animals. The virus spreads through bodily fluids such as blood.
