Kampala: Uganda has discharged its last remaining Ebola patient, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to contain the outbreak and beginning the official 42-day countdown required before it can be declared Ebola-free. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Health, which said the final patient had recovered and was released from isolation on July 16.
Since mid-May, Uganda has confirmed 20 cases of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Health authorities said 15 of those infections involved people who had travelled from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the outbreak continues to spread. Uganda has not reported a new Ebola case since June 22, raising hopes that transmission has been successfully contained.
The final patient, a Congolese national, was discharged from Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala after making a full recovery. Uganda’s Ministry of Health confirmed the development in a statement, saying the patient was ready to return home and reunite with family after completing treatment.
Government spokesperson Alan Kasujja said Uganda has now entered the critical monitoring period. Under World Health Organization guidelines, a country can be declared Ebola-free if no new infections are recorded for 42 consecutive days after the last patient tests negative or is discharged.
While Uganda has made significant progress, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to worsen. Congolese health authorities have reported more than 2,000 confirmed cases, and the World Health Organization has warned the actual number of infections could be substantially higher because many cases remain unlinked to known transmission chains.
Health officials in Uganda said surveillance, contact tracing and border screening will continue throughout the countdown period to prevent any new infections. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant as the country works towards achieving official Ebola-free status.
POPULAR | Messi leads Argentina to third FIFA World Cup final
