Africa CDC commends Uganda on ending Ebola outbreak

ETHIOPIA— The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has congratulated the Government of Uganda on officially declaring the end of its eighth outbreak of the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus.

This announcement comes after the Ugandan Ministry of Health confirmed that there had been no new Ebola cases for 42 consecutive days, which fulfills the World Health Organization’s criteria for declaring an Ebola outbreak over.

The outbreak was first identified in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, on January 30, 2025.

 In response, Ugandan authorities acted quickly, launching a coordinated national effort to contain the virus.

Since the last reported Ebola case on March 2 and the discharge of the final patient on March 14, health officials have maintained strict surveillance to ensure the virus did not resurface.

During the outbreak, a total of 14 cases were reported, including 12 confirmed and two probable cases.

 Sadly, four people lost their lives, resulting in a case fatality rate of 28.6%. However, all 10 patients who were admitted to treatment centers made a full recovery.

These survivors have now been enrolled in a special care program that provides psychosocial support and ongoing medical follow-up, helping them reintegrate safely into their communities.

Uganda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, officially announced the end of the outbreak, expressing gratitude for the dedication of healthcare workers and the cooperation of local communities.

The government’s response included monitoring more than 85% of the 534 individuals identified as contacts of Ebola patients, using quarantine and close observation to prevent further spread of the disease.

This achievement is particularly notable given that there are currently no approved vaccines or targeted treatments for the Sudan strain of Ebola.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, praised Uganda’s leadership, highlighting the roles of President Yoweri Museveni and Health Minister Dr. Aceng in ensuring a rapid and effective response.

He emphasized that Uganda’s handling of the outbreak serves as a strong example for other African nations facing public health emergencies.

 Dr. Kaseya also pointed out that the full recovery of all hospitalized patients reflects the strength of Uganda’s health system and the benefits of collaborative partnerships.

In support of Uganda’s efforts, Africa CDC deployed a multidisciplinary team, including experts from its African Volunteer Health Corps (AVoHC).

These teams assisted with community engagement, disease surveillance, infection prevention and control, risk communication, and field research.

 To further build local capacity, Africa CDC helped train 897 community health workers in risk communication and surveillance, as well as 80 surveillance officers in case detection and alert management.

Additionally, 40 infection prevention and control mentors were sent to high-risk districts to support healthcare workers on the ground.

Laboratory capacity was strengthened with the donation of portable diagnostic kits and the provision of support for genomic sequencing, which were crucial for tracking the virus and stopping its spread.

To enhance future preparedness, Africa CDC has continued to support Uganda through initiatives such as a population exposure study (sero-survey), the supply of a genomic sequencing machine, and the delivery of emergency supplies and cold chain equipment valued at US$4.3 million .

Africa CDC has reaffirmed its commitment to health security across Africa, pledging ongoing support to help build resilient health systems capable of responding effectively to new public health threats.