Uganda Declares End to Latest Ebola Outbreak After Successfully Completing WHO Monitoring Period

Kampala, Uganda | August 3, 2026

Uganda has officially declared an end to its latest Ebola outbreak after completing the World Health Organization's (WHO) mandatory 42-day monitoring period without recording any new infections. The announcement marks a significant public health achievement for the country, which has successfully contained several Ebola outbreaks over the past two decades.

Uganda Declares End to Latest Ebola Outbreak

The Ministry of Health confirmed that the outbreak ended after health authorities completed intensive surveillance and contact tracing following the recovery and discharge of the last Ebola patient. The 42-day monitoring period, recommended by the WHO, is the international standard used to confirm that an Ebola outbreak has been successfully contained. 

The latest outbreak resulted in 20 confirmed cases and two deaths. Health officials credited the country's rapid response, including early detection, patient isolation, contact tracing, and community awareness campaigns, for preventing widespread transmission. Most of the confirmed cases were linked to infections imported from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where a larger Ebola outbreak continues.

Despite the declaration, Ugandan authorities have emphasized that surveillance efforts will continue, particularly along border areas with the DRC. Health teams remain on high alert to detect and respond quickly to any new suspected cases as cross-border movement continues.

The WHO praised Uganda's coordinated response and the commitment of frontline healthcare workers, laboratories, and local communities, whose efforts helped bring the outbreak under control. Public health experts say the country's experience in managing previous Ebola outbreaks has strengthened its emergency preparedness and response systems.

Meanwhile, concern remains over the ongoing Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where thousands of infections have been reported. Ugandan officials have pledged to maintain close cooperation with regional and international partners to reduce the risk of cross-border transmission and protect public health.

The successful containment of the outbreak is being viewed as an important milestone for Uganda's health sector and a demonstration of the importance of strong disease surveillance, rapid response, and international collaboration in controlling infectious diseases.