Uganda declares end of Ebola outbreak after 42 days

Uganda has officially declared the end of its 2026 Ebola outbreak, a significant milestone achieved amid a continuing and severe epidemic in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. The Ugandan Ministry of Health announced the declaration on Tuesday, July 28, stating the country is now Ebola-free after marking 42 days since the last confirmed locally transmitted case was discharged from care on June 16 with no documented onward transmission.

The outbreak in Uganda, which resulted in 20 confirmed cases and two confirmed deaths, was linked to the larger epidemic in Congo’s northeastern Ituri province. Ugandan authorities stated the first cases were Congolese individuals who crossed the border seeking treatment before it was known they had Ebola. The World Health Organization noted that the last case imported from Congo was discharged in Uganda on July 16, and it will continue monitoring for an additional 42 days from that date as a precautionary safeguard.

While commending Uganda’s strong containment measures, the WHO emphasized that the risk of cross-border spread remains as long as transmission continues in Congo. The UN health agency urged Uganda to maintain heightened...