Ebola countdown in Uganda collapses after 16 days

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines governing hemorrhagic fever outbreaks, for a country to be officially declared Ebola-free, it must complete 42 consecutive days (two full 21-day incubation periods) without any new infections. The Ebola-free declaration countdown collapses and immediately resets to day zero the moment a new confirmed case is recorded, regardless of how many days had previously passed.

Health experts say the imported cases highlight the vulnerabilities that remain in Uganda’s response, particularly porous border crossings, the risk of imported infections, and the need to maintain strict infection prevention measures in health facilities.

According to Prof Pontiano Kaleebu, the Executive Director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), Uganda’s long and porous border with the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to present one of the biggest challenges in preventing new infections.

“Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo share a long and porous border with numerous unofficial crossing routes often not effectively monitored. This makes it difficult to fully control movement, yet these are the very points through which infections can easily be introduced,” Prof Kaleebu said.

He noted that the recurrence of Ebola outbreaks in the region demonstrates the urgent need to strengthen border health security, enhance surveillance systems, and deepen information-sharing mechanisms to minimise the risk of future importation of cases.

Prof Kaleebu further warned that health facilities must remain on high alert, noting that healthcare workers are often among the first people exposed to suspected Ebola patients.

“Strict infection prevention and control measures, including screening, isolation procedures, availability of protective equipment, and continuous training of health workers, must be maintained even when case numbers decline,” he added.

The imported case has also renewed focus on the need to sustain surveillance and contact tracing efforts, which health officials describe as the backbone of Uganda’s Ebola response.

According to Dr Dan Kyabayinze, the Ministry of Health’s Director of Public Health, authorities moved swiftly from the onset of the outbreak to identify, isolate, and monitor all individuals who had interacted with confirmed patients.

“The most critical pillar of the response has been contact tracing and monitoring. On the very day the outbreak was declared, we activated surveillance teams to track all sick people and their contacts,” Dr Kyabayinze said.

The latest Ministry of Health figures as of June 23 show that out of the 831 contacts linked to Ebola patients, nine remain under active follow-up while 814 have completed the mandatory 21-day follow-up period.

Dr Kyabayinze said health teams continue to conduct daily follow-ups to ensure that anyone who develops symptoms is identified early, isolated, and tested before transmitting the virus to others.

“These efforts have contributed to improved patient outcomes, with seven people already declared recovered after receiving treatment and testing negative twice, 72 hours apart,” he explained.

Dr Kyabayinze says the government imposed a series of movement and gathering restrictions aimed at reducing opportunities for transmission. On May 19, authorities suspended mass gatherings and events in affected areas, while border market activities were restricted to essential travel on May 21.

The National Task Force later announced the temporary closure of the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo border on May 27 following concerns over continued transmission in eastern DR Congo, where the outbreak originated.

Dr Kyabayinze noted that Uganda’s western border remains the country’s biggest vulnerability due to continuous population movement and the existence of numerous unofficial crossing points.

“To strengthen early detection, the government established additional laboratory testing capacity in Arua and border areas to ensure faster diagnosis and response. It also intensified screening at points of entry and stepped up infection prevention measures in health facilities and schools, particularly in high-risk districts,” he noted.

Authorities also intensified screening at airports, border crossings and other points of entry, while strengthening infection prevention and control measures in health facilities, schools and communities considered to be at high risk.

“We have been very intentional in extensive public awareness and risk communication campaigns, using the media, community leaders, and local structures to disseminate accurate information, combat misinformation, and encourage early reporting of suspected cases,” Dr Kyabayinze emphasized.

Beyond its borders, Uganda extended its response into the Democratic Republic of Congo by deploying 80 health workers and establishing two temporary treatment facilities near the outbreak epicentre to support containment efforts at the source.

“Due to the proximity to the Ebola epicenter, it is more efficient to go to the source and work with our counterparts because we may not be able to stop the inflow of patients seeking care in Uganda,” the Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, Dr Diana Atwine, highlighted previously.

Ebola Factsheet June 23, 2026 

Ebola statistics for Uganda (Source: MOH.))

• New cases 00
• Cumulative cases 20 (15 imported, 5 Ugandans)
• Active cases 09
• Deaths 02 (imported)
• Recoveries 14
• Contacts of patients 831
• Ebola Incubation Period 21 days