Uganda Declares End of Ebola Outbreak with Last Patient Discharged

Uganda has successfully discharged its last Ebola patients, with no new cases reported. The World Health Organization commended the nation’s swift response to the outbreak. Contact tracing has identified 265 individuals, many of whom completed quarantine successfully. Without an approved vaccine, a clinical study for a trial vaccine has been initiated to combat the virus.

On February 18, 2025, Uganda announced the discharge of its last eight patients who had recovered from Ebola, marking a significant milestone in its public health response. The World Health Organization commended the recoveries, attributing them to Uganda’s swift and well-coordinated containment efforts. The patients primarily received treatment at the Mulago Referral Hospital in Kampala, the capital city.

The only fatality related to this outbreak was a male nurse who passed away just before the outbreak was designated on January 30. His family, who later showed symptoms and were subsequently hospitalized, were among those treated. Effective contact tracing was crucial, with authorities tracking 265 individuals; around 90 of these completed quarantine without symptoms. Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng highlighted the importance of these measures during a recent briefing.

Currently, there is no approved vaccine available for the Sudan strain of Ebola affecting this outbreak. However, Ugandan health authorities have initiated a clinical study aimed at testing the safety and efficacy of a potential trial vaccine as part of broader strategies to prevent the virus’s spread.

The previous Ebola outbreak in Uganda commenced in September 2022 and resulted in at least 55 deaths before it was officially declared over after four months. Ebola spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids; its symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, pain, and can involve bleeding. The virus was first identified in 1976 during outbreaks in South Sudan and Congo, named after the Ebola River where it was initially discovered.

The recent discharge of the last Ebola patients in Uganda signals a successful containment of the outbreak, attributed to effective health strategies and quick responses from health authorities. The lack of new cases and the commencement of a clinical study for a trial vaccine are positive steps toward preventing future outbreaks. Despite past challenges, Uganda’s public health measures have proven effective against the Ebola virus.

Original Source: apnews.com