Uganda discharged its final confirmed Ebola patient from hospital on Thursday, marking the end of active cases in the country. Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi confirmed that the patient had recovered from the Bundibugyo species of the virus, which was first detected in the country in May. Uganda recorded 20 confirmed cases and two deaths during this period, with the majority of infections identified in travelers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The government has now initiated a 42-day observation period, which is twice the incubation period of the virus. According to World Health Organization protocols, Uganda can be declared free of the virus if no new cases are detected by the end of this timeframe. Health officials have maintained a call for public vigilance, advising citizens to report symptoms such as fever or unexplained bleeding.
While Uganda has cleared its active cases, the outbreak continues in the neighboring DRC, where government data reports over 2,000 infections and 796 deaths. In response, the United States recently updated travel restrictions, requiring citizens who have visited the DRC to spend 21 days in a third country before entering the U.S. to ensure they are not carrying the virus.