Uganda's Ebola Outbreak Declared Over, WHO Warns of Congo Surge
The WHO has declared Uganda's Ebola outbreak over, while warning that cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo are still increasing.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared the Ebola outbreak in Uganda over, bringing an end to the public health emergency caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
The declaration came during a WHO regional briefing on Wednesday, where officials confirmed that Uganda had already announced the end of its epidemic on July 28. However, the global health body waited several more weeks to monitor the situation, ensuring that no chains of transmission had been missed before making its final announcement.
While Uganda's outbreak has been contained, the WHO's Dr. Marie Roseline Belizaire, director of emergency preparedness for the WHO African region, warned that the situation remains concerning in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She noted that cases there continue to rise despite some progress being made in response efforts.
The development highlights the uneven progress in tackling Ebola across the African continent, with one country celebrating the end of its outbreak while another continues to battle the disease.