Uganda declares itself Ebola-free

What the report says

RT reported that Uganda’s Health Ministry declared the country Ebola-free on Tuesday after an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain infected 20 people and caused two deaths. The ministry said the announcement came after monitoring following the June 16 discharge of the last patient infected within Uganda. Anadolu Agency also reported that health officials said no new cases had been recorded since June.

According to figures cited by RT, Uganda’s government said 15 of the 20 confirmed infections were imported from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, while five were locally transmitted. The World Health Organization said 18 patients recovered and that four health workers were among those infected. Uganda’s Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi said the episode was different from earlier outbreaks because officials had traced the source and route of imported infections.

A key point of uncertainty is the formal WHO timeline. RT reported that Uganda counted 42 days from the discharge of the last locally infected patient, while the WHO said its countdown should start from July 16, when the last confirmed patient tested negative twice and left care. Under WHO practice, an Ebola outbreak is generally declared over after two incubation periods pass without new cases.

The declaration matters because Uganda borders DR Congo, where RT said the outbreak remains active and has been concentrated largely in Ituri Province. Uganda has faced repeated Ebola outbreaks since 2000, making rapid detection, isolation, contact tracing and cross-border surveillance central to limiting further spread.