WHO declares Uganda Ebola-free as DRC outbreak accelerates

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Uganda free of Ebola after the country passed the mandatory 42-day monitoring period without new cases. The announcement came at a joint news conference with Uganda's Ministry of Health on Tuesday, roughly a month after Uganda had already declared the outbreak over based on its own analysis. Uganda reported 20 infections and two deaths, with the last confirmed case on June 21 and the final patient discharged on July 16. Source: Al Jazeera

The reaction

Uganda's Health Ministry permanent secretary, Diana Atwine, urged countries to lift travel restrictions imposed during the outbreak, stating, "Unless they have other reasons, they should definitely lift the restrictions off the country." She noted that WHO's delay was procedural, saying, "That's the process. That's the guideline." Source: Al Jazeera

Cross-border concerns

While Uganda is declared free, the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is accelerating. Confirmed cases reached 5,656 as of August 25, with 2,715 deaths, according to government data cited by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Ituri province remains the epicentre, with over 4,700 infections. Source: Al Jazeera

Uganda is supporting treatment and laboratory capacity at two sites across the border in Aru and Kasenyi, and plans to open two additional Ebola treatment centres in the DRC, bringing the total to four. Officials from both countries met in Kampala to review a bilateral memorandum of understanding on cross-border health security. Kenneth Akiiri, Uganda's Health Ministry undersecretary, called for the WHO and Africa CDC to mobilise more resources, while DRC delegation head Adelard Lufungula urged strong action: "We want to fight Ebola like a war." Source: Al Jazeera