Africa-Press. Uganda has announced the discharge of the last patient infected with the Ebola virus from the hospital, marking the beginning of a 42-day countdown during which the country can be declared free of the virus if no new infections are reported.
The Ugandan Ministry of Health confirmed 20 cases of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus since mid-May, including 15 cases involving individuals who contracted the virus in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, the epicenter of the outbreak, before transferring to Uganda.
In contrast to the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where infections continue to rise, Uganda has not reported any new cases since June 22.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo recorded 62 new infections, bringing the total confirmed cases to 2,073, while the World Health Organization indicated that the actual number of infections could be at least double that figure.
The Ugandan Ministry of Health stated in a post on a social media platform: “Today, the last Ebola patient was discharged from the hospital, a Congolese citizen who has successfully recovered and is ready to return to his family.”
The Ugandan government spokesperson announced on Wednesday that the patient would leave the isolation unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital in the capital, Kampala.
He added in a post on the social media platform: “Uganda begins the countdown today, and if 42 days pass without any new cases, the World Health Organization guidelines state that the country can be declared free of Ebola.”
On Thursday, he shared a photo on the social media platform confirming the country has reached “zero Ebola patients,” coinciding with the announcement of the last patient’s discharge and the start of the monitoring period set by the World Health Organization.
The World Health Organization requires a 42-day period before declaring any country free from an Ebola outbreak, as it represents double the maximum incubation period of the virus, which ranges from 2 to 21 days.
This measure aims to ensure that no new infections appear among contacts and that the transmission chain is completely interrupted.
The 42-day period is calculated from the date of recovery of the last patient and their discharge from the treatment center, or from the date of safe burial if the case ended in death, provided no new infections are recorded during that time.
Upon meeting this condition, the World Health Organization officially declares the outbreak over and the country free of the virus, while continuing surveillance and health monitoring in anticipation of any future cases.
Ebola is a rare but deadly disease caused by a virus, typically affecting animals, especially fruit bats, although outbreaks among humans can sometimes begin when people consume or handle infected animals.
The incubation period for symptoms ranges from 2 to 21 days after infection, with symptoms appearing suddenly, starting in a manner similar to influenza or malaria, with fever, headache, and fatigue.
As the disease progresses, symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea appear, which can lead to organ failure, and some patients – though not all – may experience internal and external bleeding.
The virus is transmitted from person to person through contact with infected bodily fluids, such as blood or vomit.
Previous Ebola outbreaks were limited and small, confined to remote rural areas, but urban expansion is pushing larger numbers of people closer to the natural environments that harbor the virus, increasing the risk of transmission.
