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‘Moment of joy’ as Uganda discharges last Ebola patient
Uganda has discharged the last patient being treated for Ebola in the country, meaning it now has no active confirmed cases and can begin a 42-day countdown to being officially declared free of the virus. Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi called it "a moment of joy", though his ministry has urged people to remain vigilant. The milestone matters because it shows how early detection, prompt treatment and established outbreak protocols can bring a Bundibugyo-species Ebola outbreak under control, even as the disease continues to spread rapidly across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Uganda's outbreak began in May, after a man who had travelled from DR Congo for treatment tested positive; the country went on to record 20 confirmed cases and two deaths. In DR Congo, the epicentre of the epidemic, there have been more than 2,000 confirmed infections and 796 deaths, with the WHO warning it is now the world's third-largest Ebola outbreak on record and spreading faster than any previous one, with 80% of new cases from previously unknown transmission chains. There is no vaccine or approved treatment for this Ebola strain, and the WHO says it has received only $45m of the $115m it has requested to fight the outbreak. The US has also tightened travel rules, now requiring citizens who have been in DR Congo to spend 21 days in a third country before returning home.
In short
- Uganda discharges its last Ebola patient, with no active cases remaining
- A 42-day countdown now begins before Uganda can be declared Ebola-free
- DR Congo's outbreak is worsening, with nearly 800 deaths and no vaccine
Explained simply
Ebola is a rare disease spread through contact with infected blood or body fluids that often proves fatal. The virus has caused periodic outbreaks in Africa over recent decades and can spread quickly without proper isolation and care of infected people. Two countries are currently dealing with active Ebola outbreaks: Uganda and the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Uganda's outbreak began in May when a man who had travelled from DR Congo tested positive for the virus. The country went on to record 20 confirmed cases and two deaths before controlling the spread through early detection and isolation of patients. This success contrasts sharply with the situation across the border.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing a much larger outbreak, with over 2,000 confirmed cases and 796 deaths so far. This outbreak is spreading faster than any previous Ebola epidemic and there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for this strain. Several countries have also tightened travel restrictions, and international health organisations have warned of insufficient funding to fight the crisis effectively.