Uganda Says It’s Ebola Free As Cases In Congo Near Record Numbers

What the report says

Forbes reported that Uganda’s health authorities declared the country free of Ebola on Tuesday, July 28, after the last patient completed a 42-day monitoring period without developing or passing on the disease. Uganda recorded 20 confirmed infections and two deaths during the outbreak, and officials said there were no active or suspected cases while urging the public to keep following health precautions.

The announcement contrasts with the situation in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, where the outbreak continues to expand. According to figures cited by Forbes from Congo’s health ministry, the country has reported 3,262 cases and 1,437 deaths. Officials described the outbreak as the fastest-spreading Ebola event on record, and its caseload is approaching Congo’s 2018-2020 outbreak, which remains the largest recorded with more than 3,400 cases.

Forbes’ timeline shows that international and regional agencies have warned for weeks that the response requires major funding and stronger containment. Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said in June that estimated needs had risen from $518 million to about $1.4 billion, while the White House submitted a supplemental request to Congress that included the same amount for the Central Africa Ebola response.

The outbreak has also prompted wider preparedness steps beyond Congo and Uganda, including health screening plans for travelers and debate in Kenya over a proposed quarantine and treatment site for Americans potentially exposed to Ebola. The immediate public health significance is that Uganda’s end of transmission reduces one cross-border risk, while Congo’s rising numbers keep regional response efforts under pressure.