Uganda discharged its last Ebola patient on Thursday, the health ministry said, marking a successful containment of the outbreak that had spread from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The country must now go 42 days without reporting a new case before it can be officially declared Ebola-free under World Health Organization, or WHO, guidelines. This period represents two full incubation periods of the virus.
Since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, more than 2,000 confirmed Ebola cases, including 754 deaths, have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The WHO has warned that the actual number of cases could be two to four times higher.
Despite sharing a porous border with the affected areas, Uganda reported only 20 cases and two deaths. Most of the cases involved Congolese citizens who crossed into Uganda.
“We recorded a total of 20 cases. Two people died, and the rest recovered,” Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi said in a statement.
He added that hundreds of people who had contact with infected patients were isolated for 21 days and have since been released. He said Uganda would remain vigilant and strengthen measures along the border to reduce or prevent cross-border transmission.
Uganda’s response to the virus, which African health officials described as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record, has drawn praise.
“The contact tracing was very efficient, and the follow-up of those who were in care,” said Serawit Bruck-Landais, regional global health counselor for the French Embassy.
She told AFP that the response showed an Ebola outbreak can be effectively managed.
There is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the outbreak. However, the WHO said the first clinical trial of an antiviral drug began Tuesday.
