WHO says Uganda still at risk from Ebola spread in DR Congo

Uganda remains at risk from the spread of Ebola in the neighbouring DRC, the WHO said Wednesday after the country celebrated the recovery of the last case of local transmission.

Uganda marked the passing of 42 days since the last confirmed locally transmitted case was discharged from care on June 16, with no documented onward local transmission.

On Tuesday, its health ministry said it was "pleased to announce that Uganda has officially declared the end of the 2026 Ebola disease outbreak", adding: "Today, Uganda is Ebola free".

But the World Health Organization said the standard international countdown was 42 days from the last potential exposure to the last case.

Forty-two days is two times 21 days, which is the longest known incubation period for Ebola.

"As the last imported case from the Democratic Republic of Congo was discharged on July 16, WHO will therefore be monitoring the situation for 42 days from this date as an additional safeguard to ensure no chains of transmission have been missed," the UN health agency said.

There have been 3,360 confirmed cases, including 1,487 deaths in the DR Congo, with the outbreak heavily centred on the northeastern Ituri province.

Uganda, which borders Ituri, has seen 20 confirmed cases, including two confirmed deaths, and now 18 recovered patients.

"What is most important is that Uganda maintains heightened surveillance and readiness, given the continuing outbreak in DRC and the risk of cross-border movement," the WHO said.

"Uganda remains at risk as long as transmission continues in neighbouring areas of DRC.

"The declaration does not mean the risk has disappeared. It means Uganda has not documented ongoing local transmission, based on the ministry's assessment. This is a success to be recognised, while remembering that continued vigilance is critical."

The WHO said the case discharged on July 16 was classified by Ugandan authorities as an imported case from the DRC, with no documented onward local transmission in Uganda.

The Geneva-based agency commended the government, health workers and communities in Uganda for their strong measures to contain the outbreak.

A viral haemorrhagic fever, Ebola spreads through close contact and infected bodily fluids.

The DRC's 17th Ebola outbreak was declared on May 15 after several deaths in Ituri.

The epidemic is now the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record.

There are no approved vaccines or treatments for the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which is behind the current outbreak.