WHO declares end to Uganda's Ebola outbreak after 42 days without new cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared an end to Uganda's latest Ebola outbreak after the country went 42 consecutive days without reporting a new confirmed case.



Marie Roseline Belizaire, a WHO expert, made the remarks at an online briefing by the WHO Regional Office for Africa to mark the 42nd day since the last confirmed Ebola case was discharged.



On July 28, Uganda's health ministry first declared the Ebola outbreak over, noting that advances in epidemiological investigations and the fully characterized nature of the outbreak provided sufficient scientific evidence that transmission had been interrupted.



"The Ministry of Health is pleased to announce that Uganda has officially declared the end of the 2026 Ebola disease outbreak. Today, Uganda is Ebola-free," said a statement issued by Minister Chris Baryomunsi.



Uganda declared the outbreak on May 15 after confirming an imported Ebola case from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country recorded 20 confirmed cases, including 18 recoveries and two deaths.