Uganda Starts 42-Day Countdown to Declare Itself Ebola-Free

Uganda has started a 42-day countdown to be declared Ebola-free. This follows the discharge of the last patient from an isolation unit. According to a report, the patient's release from Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala on Thursday morning kicked off the waiting period set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) before the outbreak can be officially over.

The WHO says a country can only be declared free of an Ebola outbreak if there are no new confirmed cases for 42 days after the last patient recovers or dies.

During the outbreak, Uganda’s Ministry of Health reported 20 confirmed Ebola cases. This includes five locally acquired infections and 15 imported cases. The ministry’s online dashboard shows that 17 patients recovered while two people died.

Speaking on the situation, Ugandan government spokesperson Alan Kasujja confirmed that the discharge of the last patient started the WHO-mandated countdown. “When that happens, Uganda starts counting down. If 42 days pass without a single new case, WHO guidelines stipulate that we will be declared Ebola-free,” Mr Kasujja said.

Ongoing Outbreak in DRC

Meanwhile, the outbreak is still spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in May. Data released by the Congolese government on Wednesday showed that the country has reported 2,011 confirmed Ebola cases and 754 confirmed deaths.