Korede Abdullah in Lagos
Uganda’s Health Minister, Jane Ruth Aceng, announced on Wednesday that eight patients who had been receiving treatment for Ebola have fully recovered, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to contain the virus.
“This is a major breakthrough,” Aceng told AFP, emphasizing the success of the medical response. The recovered patients were discharged on Tuesday and Wednesday from a hospital in Kampala.
The latest outbreak had recorded nine confirmed cases, including a nurse who tragically succumbed to the disease in the capital earlier in January.
Despite this progress, health officials remain vigilant, with 265 individuals still under quarantine for monitoring after coming into contact with the deceased patient.
Aceng reassured the public that “at the moment, Ebola spread is contained as part of the Ugandan government’s robust mechanism to contain the spread of diseases,” working in collaboration with international agencies.
This outbreak is the sixth instance of the Ebola Sudan species affecting Uganda, a strain for which no approved vaccine currently exists. However, a vaccination trial targeting this strain was launched earlier this month to aid future containment efforts.
Uganda has battled multiple Ebola outbreaks, with the previous one lasting from 2022 to 2023 and claiming 55 lives. The deadliest epidemic, however, struck West Africa between 2013 and 2016, leading to over 11,300 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
While Uganda’s latest outbreak appears to be under control, health authorities remain cautious and continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent further spread.
