Uganda Celebrates ‘Moment of Joy’ as Last Ebola Patient Discharged

Sun Sep 06 2026 04:03:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Uganda has discharged its final Ebola patient, ending the outbreak and beginning a 42‑day countdown to declare the country Ebola‑free.

Uganda’s health ministry celebrated the discharge of the last Ebola patient as a moment of joy. With no confirmed cases, the nation now embarks on a 42‑day countdown to declare itself Ebola‑free. The outbreak, which began in May when a traveler from the Democratic Republic of Congo was diagnosed, has resulted in 20 confirmed cases and two deaths in Uganda. World Health Organization officials warned of a rapid spread in Congo, calling the outbreak the third‑largest on record. The U.S. has extended travel restrictions for citizens who have been to DR Congo to curb potential spread.

Uganda Celebrates ‘Moment of Joy’ as Last Ebola Patient Discharged

The last patient being treated for Ebola in Uganda has been discharged from hospital. The country’s Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi described the moment as a celebration.

First case appeared in May when a man travelling from the Democratic Republic of Congo was diagnosed. The outbreak has now totaled 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, primarily among visitors from Congo.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the current outbreak the third‑largest on record and warned that 80% of new cases stem from previously unknown chains. He noted that the spread in Congo is quicker than any previous outbreak.

In light of this, Uganda has begun a 42‑day countdown before it can officially claim to be Ebola‑free, assuming no new infections arise. The health ministry urges residents to stay vigilant and seek immediate medical care if they develop fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained bleeding.

The United States has extended travel restrictions for citizens who have been to DR Congo, requiring a 21‑day quarantine in a third country before entry. This move is intended to curb potential spread and is likely to affect medical crews and operational scale.

Despite challenges—including insufficient beds, contact tracing capacity, and community mistrust amid armed conflict—the WHO is seeking $115m (£85m) in international aid, calling it an investment in national security. Donors have yet to meet the target.

Further details: Ebola is a virus that targets the immune system and organs, typically originating in fruit bats. It can spill over to humans via contact with infected animals and spreads through bodily fluids.

Additional reporting by Swaibu Ibrahim in Kampala.