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Kampala, Uganda – Uganda has taken a significant step towards declaring the end of its latest Ebola outbreak, with the discharge of the final two patients. Health authorities have now commenced a 42-day countdown, during which no new cases must be reported for the outbreak to be officially declared over.
The recovered individuals, a 55-year-old woman from Matuga in Wakiso District and a 45-year-old woman from Kyegegwa District, received treatment at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala and Fort Portal Regional Hospital Ebola Treatment Unit in Kabarole District, respectively.
“The discharge of the last two patients is a significant milestone, but the outbreak is not yet over,” stated Charles Olaro, acting director general of health services at the Ministry of Health. “We will continue active surveillance and vaccination efforts to ensure no new cases emerge.”
Uganda initially declared the outbreak on January 30, following the tragic death of a 32-year-old nurse in Kampala. A second fatality, a four-and-a-half-year-old child from Kibuli, was recorded on February 25. The total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak began has reached 12.
Despite earlier hopes of containment, two new cases were detected in Kampala on March 7, just two weeks after the country had discharged all previously infected patients. However, no new cases have been reported since then, raising hopes that Uganda can officially declare the outbreak over by early May.
The Ministry of Health has reassured the public that the situation is under control, urging vigilance and immediate reporting of any suspected Ebola symptoms. Health officials are diligently monitoring contacts of confirmed cases and continuing vaccination efforts to prevent a resurgence of the deadly virus.
Uganda has a history of battling Ebola outbreaks, with the most recent major outbreak (September 2022 – January 2023) resulting in 164 cases and 77 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The nation’s healthcare system remains on high alert, drawing on past experiences to ensure the current outbreak is definitively contained.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information available as of March 20, 2024. The situation regarding Ebola outbreaks can change rapidly. Readers are advised to consult official sources such as the World Health Organization and the Ugandan Ministry of Health for the latest updates.(https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1275511)
