Uganda Declared Ebola-Free After 42 Days Without a Single New Case
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Minister for Health Dr. Chris Baryomunsi has announced that Uganda is declared free of Ebola after 42 days of surveillance with no new cases.
DR. Chris announced on X, stating: “Uganda is officially Ebola-free.”
The statement follows the repatriation of the final Ugandan by the country on 16 th June 2026.
“This confirmation comes after the country discharged the last Ugandan national on 16th June 2026.” The board noted.
According to the ministry, the outbreak was different from most previous outbreaks.
“Unlike previous Ebola outbreaks that informed the current 42-day declaration policy, Uganda’s 2026 Ebola outbreak arose from a fully documented importation event,” the statement read.
The MOH stated that the authorities in charge traced and contained the outbreak entirely.
The source of infection was identified, the introduction pathway was characterized, all confirmed cases were epidemiologically linked, and chains of transmission were fully characterized and reconstructed.
The board stated that all the identified contacts have also been institutionally quarantined and undertook the mandatory 21-day follow-up without any further transmission.
The ministry announced that increased surveillance has uncovered no unknown community transmission.
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Ebola Disease and Viruses
Ebola disease (EBOD) is a serious but seldom-encountered disease of humans (1).
The disease is caused by viruses that belong to the Orthoebolavirus genus of the filoviridae family (2).
Six species of Orthoebolaviruses have been identified to date, with three known to cause large outbreaks:
- Ebola virus (EBOV) causing Ebola virus disease (EVD)
- Sudan virus (SUDV) causing Sudan virus disease (SVD)
- Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) causing Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD)
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Ebola First Appeared in 1976, with a Significant Outbreak Declared a Public Health Emergency
Ebola first appeared in 1976 in two separate incidents: an outbreak of the rather more deadly Sudan virus disease in the South Sudan (lying within the borders of what is today the nation of South Sudan) town of Nzara, and an outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in the town of Yambuku (now part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
On 15 May 2026, an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
On 17 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General determined that the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.
The latest declaration by Uganda allows the country to resume normal public health operations under #EbolaFreeUganda and #MOHatWork.
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Health workers in DRC disinfect an area after handling Ebola patients in Eastern DRC. PHOTO/ WHO