Uganda discharges last Ebola patient, 42-day countdown begins

Uganda has discharged its last Ebola patient and triggering the start of the mandatory 42-day countdown before the outbreak can officially be declared over.

The patient, a Congolese national who had been receiving treatment at the Mulago National Referral Hospital Ebola Isolation Centre, recovered and has been discharged today Thursday.

Speaking at the discharge ceremony, Health minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi described the development as a significant achievement in Uganda’s efforts to contain the disease.

“It has been two months since this outbreak was declared, and today we are celebrating the discharge of the last patient. This is indeed a moment of joy. It demonstrates that with early detection, prompt treatment and a strong health system, Ebola can be defeated.”

Baryomunsi said Uganda recorded a case fatality rate (CFR) of about 10 per cent during the outbreak, one of the lowest reported for outbreaks involving the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.

He said the outcome underscores the importance of early detection and prompt medical care. The minister commended frontline health workers, surveillance teams, laboratory personnel, development partners and all responders whose efforts contributed to containing the outbreak.

“This achievement belongs to our health workers, technical teams, partners and the people of Uganda who worked together to stop the spread of the disease. It shows us that Ebola can be defeated when we remain vigilant, adhere to public health measures and invest in strong health systems.”

Despite the milestone, Baryomunsi cautioned the public against complacency, stressing that the outbreak has not yet officially ended.

“The discharge of the last patient does not mean the outbreak is over. Ebola has an incubation period of up to 21 days. If no new case is detected during that period, we shall begin another 21-day countdown, making a total of 42 days, before Uganda can officially declare the outbreak over in line with international guidelines.”

He also said the ministry of Health continues to closely monitor the Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where transmission remains ongoing. According to the minister, surveillance and preparedness measures remain in place across the country, particularly at border points and in high-risk districts neighbouring the DRC.

On travel restrictions imposed by some countries during the outbreak, Baryomunsi said government had begun engaging the affected countries to facilitate the restoration of normal travel and trade as Uganda continues to demonstrate progress in containing the disease.

The head of the medical team at the Mulago Ebola Treatment Unit, Dr David Kaggwa, described the patient’s discharge as further evidence of Uganda’s growing capacity to respond to highly infectious disease outbreaks.

He said the government-established 80-bed specialised isolation facility has continued to strengthen its systems with each successive outbreak and is staffed by multidisciplinary teams comprising doctors, nurses, laboratory personnel, nutritionists, psychosocial specialists and other health professionals.

“This is the third time this unit has been used during an epidemic. We have continuously improved our systems and our capacity, and that is reflected in the better outcomes we are seeing today.”

Kaggwa explained that although there is no specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the current outbreak, patients received comprehensive supportive care alongside medicines administered under compassionate-use protocols, contributing to improved recovery rates.

The World Health Organization (WHO) country representative to Uganda, Dr Kasonde Mwinga, attributed the country’s success to sustained investment in preparedness long before the outbreak was declared.

“This treatment unit existed before the outbreak, and emergency response teams had already been trained and equipped. The progress we are witnessing today is the result of years of preparedness. The more we prepare, the more lives we save.”

Under World Health Organization guidelines, a country can only declare an Ebola outbreak over after 42 consecutive days, equivalent to two incubation periods, without recording a new confirmed case after the last patient tests negative and is discharged.

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