Uganda has discharged its final recovered Ebola patient from Mulago National Referral Hospital, triggering a mandatory 42-day countdown to declare the outbreak officially over. The country recorded 20 cases of the rare Bundibugyo strain, 15 of which were imported from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. Backed by the WHO, Uganda recorded a case fatality rate of 10% and zero healthcare worker infections, which officials attribute to robust preparedness investments and cross-border surveillance.
Last Ebola patient discharge
- ▪Uganda discharged its last remaining Ebola patient, a Congolese national, from the Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala on July 16, 2026.
- ▪Uganda recorded a total of 20 confirmed Ebola cases, resulting in 18 recoveries and two deaths during the outbreak.
- ▪The discharged patient tested negative for the virus and was presented with an official Ebola discharge certificate by Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi.
42-day countdown protocol
- ▪The discharge of the last patient triggered the internationally established 42-day countdown before Uganda’s outbreak can officially be declared over.
- ▪If a new imported case is detected in Uganda during the countdown, the 42-day clock will reset to day zero.
- ▪The 42-day waiting period represents twice the maximum 21-day incubation period of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
Outbreak preparedness investments
- ▪There are currently no widely licensed vaccines or approved specific treatments for the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola causing the outbreak.
- ▪The Mulago National Isolation Centre has managed patients through three separate Ebola outbreaks, continuously improving its systems and capacity.
- ▪Uganda recorded a case fatality rate of 10 percent, which health officials attributed to long-term investments in epidemic preparedness.
Cross-border collaboration with DRC
- ▪Fifteen of Uganda's 20 confirmed cases were imported from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, where the outbreak continues to spread.
- ▪Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi signed a joint cross-border strategy to strengthen surveillance.
- ▪Uganda deployed health experts into eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to support local response teams and establish Ebola treatment centres.
Travel restrictions impact
- ▪Uganda is engaging with countries that imposed travel advisories during the outbreak to restore normal travel and trade.
- ▪Franklin Graham stated that the new United States travel rules could negatively affect the recruitment of American medical personnel for Ebola-affected areas.
- ▪The United States mandated that citizens who have visited the Democratic Republic of Congo must spend 21 days in a third country before entering America.
Healthcare worker protection measures
- ▪The World Health Organization mobilized approximately 70 technical experts to support Uganda's national response, including providing protective equipment.
- ▪Uganda recorded zero healthcare worker infections during the outbreak due to rigorous infection prevention protocols and continuous training.
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