Uganda declares end to Ebola outbreak

Uganda has officially concluded its Ebola outbreak following the successful completion of a 42-day surveillance period that began after the discharge of the final locally transmitted patient on June 16, 2026. Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi confirmed that intensive monitoring across the country detected no additional cases during this timeframe, allowing authorities to declare the outbreak contained.

The Ugandan outbreak resulted in 20 confirmed infections, with 18 patients recovering and two fatalities. Both deaths involved individuals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, indicating cross-border transmission during the early stages of the regional crisis. Despite the declaration of freedom from Ebola, Baryomunsi urged the population to maintain vigilance and continue practicing public health precautions.

The situation in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo remains far more severe. According to the Congolese Ministry of Health, the outbreak has produced at least 3,262 infections and 1,437 deaths since mid-May 2026. This scale approaches the magnitude of the 2018-2020 outbreak, previously the largest recorded in the country. The World Health Organization has characterized the current outbreak as the fastest spreading Ebola epidemic on record, with estimates suggesting actual case numbers may be two to four times higher than officially reported figures.

The strain circulating in the DRC is Bundibugyo, the rarest of four known Ebola variants affecting humans. This particular variant currently lacks approved vaccines or therapeutic treatments, complicating outbreak response efforts. Ebola transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected or deceased individuals, and symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and internal bleeding.