Kampala: Uganda on Thursday discharged its last Ebola patient after the individual tested negative for the virus, beginning a 42-day countdown to officially declare the outbreak over if no new cases are detected.
Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi led the discharge ceremony at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala and handed the patient an Ebola discharge certificate confirming that the person no longer poses a risk of transmission.
“The patient can return to the household and professional environment and continue normal activities,” Baryomunsi said, urging communities to support the patient’s reintegration.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said Uganda contained the outbreak due to strong preparedness, early detection and rapid response measures. WHO representative Kasonde Mwinga said the country recorded a case fatality rate below 10%, among the lowest in Ebola outbreaks.
Uganda declared the outbreak on May 15 after a patient from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain. The country recorded 20 confirmed cases, including 15 Congolese nationals and five Ugandans, with two deaths.
Under WHO guidelines, an Ebola outbreak is declared over after 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case after the last patient is no longer infectious.
Authorities have advised people to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical care for symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding.
