Hope Ajayi 
UGANDA – Uganda has officially declared an end to its Ebola outbreak after completing the internationally required 42-day countdown without recording a new confirmed case, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced on Wednesday.
In a statement on Thursday, the WHO said the milestone follows 42 consecutive days without a new infection after the country’s last Ebola patient—an imported case—was discharged from treatment on July 16, 2026.
The completion of the 42-day monitoring period—equivalent to twice the maximum incubation period for Ebola—confirms that no hidden chains of transmission linked to the outbreak remain.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Uganda’s swift public health response.
“Uganda has demonstrated that with decisive action, Ebola outbreaks can be brought under control quickly. Through preparedness, strong surveillance and careful management of points of entry, countries can keep people and goods moving while ensuring communities remain protected,” he said.
Health authorities credited the successful containment of the outbreak to strong government leadership and early interventions, including rapid case detection, laboratory confirmation, contact tracing, isolation of patients, clinical care, infection prevention measures, community engagement and strengthened surveillance at health facilities and border entry points.
Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya described the achievement as a significant public health victory for the continent.
“Uganda has shown that Ebola can be stopped when leadership acts decisively, communities are trusted and public health systems reach people quickly. This is a victory for Uganda and an important lesson for Africa,” he said.
About the Author
Oluwafunbi Bello 
Korede Abdullah