Uganda has officially ended its latest outbreak of Bundibugyo Ebola, but the disease continues to spread in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where health authorities are struggling to bring transmission under control.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that Uganda’s outbreak is over following the government’s declaration on July 28 that the country was free of the disease.
Uganda recorded 20 Ebola cases and two deaths during the outbreak.
The situation remains considerably more serious across the border in the DRC. WHO officials said cases continue to rise despite improvements in surveillance and response efforts, with the outbreak now described as the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country’s history.
According to figures from the Congolese government, more than 5,600 cases and 2,700 deaths had been recorded as of Tuesday.
WHO’s Director of Emergency Preparedness for the African region, Dr Marie Roseline Belizaire, said transmission in the DRC remains highly active, although response teams have made some progress in slowing the acceleration of the outbreak.
Health authorities have reported improvements in contact tracing and testing, which are critical to identifying infections and preventing further transmission.
Laboratory analysis has also so far found no evidence that the Bundibugyo virus has mutated, despite the rapid spread of the outbreak.
However, the response is facing a major financial challenge. The WHO has warned of an immediate $30 million funding gap needed to maintain logistical operations and deliver medical supplies and personal protective equipment to the worst-affected areas.
The funding shortage could threaten recent progress if essential supplies and response operations are disrupted.
The contrasting situations in Uganda and the DRC also highlight the importance of coordinated cross-border surveillance and preparedness, particularly as communities and populations move between the two countries.
While Uganda has moved into the recovery phase, health authorities and international partners continue to face a major challenge in containing the outbreak in the DRC and preventing further regional spread.
