After 142 confirmed cases of Ebola disease and 55 deaths, officials have declared an end to Uganda’s Ebola outbreak.
The Government of Uganda and the global public health community have marked the end of the deadly 2022 Ebola outbreak in Uganda. Forty-two days, or two incubation periods, have passed since the last case of Ebola was reported marking the end of the outbreak. In addition, entry screening and public health monitoring of travelers to the United States who have been in Uganda in the prior 21 days will lift effective today, Wednesday, January 11.
The outbreak began in September 2022 when the Sudan ebolavirus was identified for the first time in Uganda since 2012. The Sudan strain generally has a lower case fatality rate than the Zaire strain, but currently approved and game-changing Ebola vaccines are only effective against Zaire strain — leading to an emergency scramble to assess vaccine candidates for evaluation in Uganda. Before trials could begin, Uganda contained the outbreak.
“I commend the Government of Uganda, local health workers, and global public health partners who worked to end the country’s Ebola outbreak,” said CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H. “I also want to thank the CDC staff on the front lines in Uganda and around the world who worked countless hours to accelerate an end to the outbreak.”
“Our heartfelt sympathies are with the people who lost loved ones to this disease. CDC remains committed to partnering with the Ugandan Ministry of Health in support of survivor programs and in helping strengthen global preparedness and response capacities that can prevent or extinguish future Ebola outbreaks.”
CDC stated they will continue to support the Ugandan Ministry of Health in continuing surveillance, infection prevention and control, and response activities to help ensure rapid detection and response to any future cases and outbreaks.
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