Uganda Declares End of 2026 Ebola Outbreak After 42 Days Without New Cases

What the report says

Nile Post reports that Uganda has declared the 2026 Ebola outbreak over after completing the required 42-day observation period without detecting another infection. The announcement was made on Tuesday at the Uganda Media Centre by Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi, who said the country was now free of Ebola following months of heightened response and monitoring.

According to the report, the 42-day countdown was measured from June 16, 2026, when the last Ugandan patient linked to local transmission was discharged. Nile Post says another patient, a Congolese national, was later released on July 16 from the Mulago National Referral Hospital isolation centre in Kampala, but authorities classified that case as imported. Baryomunsi said the man had entered Uganda concealed in a cargo truck and had no known contacts in the country, so officials did not use that discharge date to define the end of the outbreak.

The minister said investigators traced the outbreak to an importation event and established links among all confirmed cases. He also said identified contacts completed the standard 21-day follow-up period without developing symptoms. Nile Post reports that the response relied on surveillance, quick testing, digital contact tracing and coordinated treatment of cases.

The declaration is significant because Ebola outbreaks require intensive public health action to stop person-to-person transmission and restore public confidence. While announcing the end of the outbreak, Baryomunsi urged Ugandans to remain alert and continue recommended health measures, saying authorities were prepared to respond rapidly if new disease threats emerge.