Last Ebola patient in Uganda discharged

Uganda has discharged its last Ebola patient, a Congolese national who has recovered and been released from a Kampala hospital, the country’s health ministry announced on Thursday, citing a post on X.

Since mid-May, 20 people in Uganda have been infected with the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, with no new cases reported since 22 June. Fifteen of those infected had contracted the virus in neighbouring Congo-Kinshasa, according to contact tracing.

The 42-day countdown to declare Uganda Ebola-free has now begun, in line with international guidelines.

Meanwhile, the outbreak in Congo-Kinshasa continues to worsen, with 2,073 confirmed cases and 796 deaths reported as of Thursday. Unrest persists in the region, with attacks on patients and responders following the death of a pregnant woman who was unable to receive a blood transfusion due to the outbreak.