Uganda has officially declared the end of its latest Ebola outbreak, three months after the virus was confirmed in the capital, Kampala.
The outbreak was first reported on January 30 following the death of a male nurse who tested positive for the virus. On Saturday, the health ministry announced the outbreak was over, noting that no new cases had been recorded for 42 consecutive days since the last patient was discharged.
The ministry did not update the final number of cases, but earlier reports in March indicated at least ten infections and two deaths.
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Ebola outbreaks are not uncommon in Uganda, a country with extensive tropical forests that provide a natural habitat for the virus. This latest incident, caused by the Sudan strain of Ebola—which currently has no approved vaccine—marks Uganda’s ninth recorded outbreak since 2000.
The virus spread initially in Kampala, a densely populated city of around four million people that serves as a major transport hub connecting Uganda to neighboring countries including Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
Despite frequent outbreaks, Uganda has built significant expertise in managing Ebola, allowing health authorities to respond quickly and effectively.
Ebola is a severe illness transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissues. Symptoms often include headache, muscle pain, vomiting of blood, and bleeding.