The Ugandan government has declared its Ebola outbreak over less than four months after cases were first reported.
Since September 20, 56 people have died from the virus, which spreads through body fluids, and there have been 142 confirmed infections.
The country has not reported any new infections in more than 42 days – twice the maximum incubation period for the virus, a World Health Organization benchmark for a country to be declared Ebola-free.
“Uganda has brought a quick end to the Ebola outbreak by stepping up key control measures such as surveillance, contact tracing and infection, prevention and control,” said Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero on Wednesday. “The miracle cure was our communities, who understood the importance of doing what was necessary to end the outbreak and took action.”
The recent outbreak of the Sudanese strain of the virus was one of the worst Uganda has seen in two decades. There is currently no vaccine against the strain.
The outbreak started in Mubende district in central Uganda and spread to neighboring Kassanda. Cases have also been reported in the capital Kampala. The two districts were sealed off for months.
“This is a very big day for the country,” said Emmanuel Ainebyoona, a spokesman for the health ministry. “I am confident to say that we have mastered this situation in a very short time.”
He acknowledged the lockdowns had impacted people’s livelihoods, but added: “These restrictive measures have been able to prevent the outbreak from spreading to other parts of the country.”
The Uganda Red Cross said it would not immediately withdraw from the affected areas.
Trials for a vaccine against the Sudan strain are underway. Government officials signaled their intention to continue developing vaccines from the Sabin Vaccine Institute in the US, Oxford University, the Jenner Institute in the UK, the Serum Institute of India and the International Aids Vaccine Initiative.
“That’s going to be where our focus will be — research, education, capacity building and making sure we build resilient health systems,” Ainebyoona said. “We will be better prepared to respond to any other health emergencies that may arise.”
dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, congratulated Uganda on its “robust and comprehensive response”. “The lessons learned and the systems in place for this outbreak will protect Ugandans and others for years to come.”
This is the first outbreak of the Sudanese Ebola strain in Uganda since 2012.