Uganda to be declared Ebola free

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The Ministry of Health will declare Uganda free of the Sudan Ebola Virus on April 25, 2025. The announcement will take place in Mbale City, according to Dr. Bernard Lubwama, the deputy incident commander at the Ministry of Health.

The development comes 42 days after Uganda last discharged the last Sudan Ebola virus-confirmed patient.

The health ministry declared the Sudan Ebola Virus outbreak on January 30, 2025.

The Sudan Ebola strain has a 50 percent fatality rate, and it is highly infectious. During the recent outbreak, a total of 14 people were confirmed to have contracted the disease. Of those, 10 were treated and recovered, while two succumbed to the deadly disease, and the other two were probable deaths (they were not accorded laboratory tests but their contacts showed they had Ebola), noted Dr. Lubwama.

This was the sixth time Uganda was affected by the Ebola Virus. The country has experienced five previous outbreaks of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the years 2000, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2022. The largest and deadliest outbreak occurred in 2000, during which a total of 425 patients were confirmed to have the disease, and 224 of those patients died.

Africa CDC to declare continent Ebola-free

In the next 11 days, the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is set to declare Africa free of Ebola.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Director General for the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, announced that the African region has not recorded any new cases of Sudan Ebola since March 15, 2025.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Director General for the Africa Centre for Disease Control, speaking during a media brief. (Photo by Agnes Kyotalengerire)

“We are keeping our fingers crossed, and after 11 days we hope Uganda will be free of this outbreak,” Dr. Kaseya said.

He further noted that the Africa CDC is supporting all aspects of the response together with other development partners to tackle Ebola, Mpox and other diseases that the country is grappling with.

He was speaking during the Africa CDC press weekly briefing on health emergencies across the continent and the pre-response that Africa CDC has across the Member States on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

Understanding Ebola virus

Ebola virus is primarily found in wild animals, particularly fruit bats. It can infect monkeys and porcupines. It is spread from animals or human to human.

Sudan Ebola virus is one of the three species of ebolaviruses responsible for the largest outbreaks of Ebola disease in Africa.