WHO declares end of Ebola epidemic in Uganda after 42 days with no new cases

The WHO (World Health Organization) and the Ugandan Minister of Health announced the end of the Ebola epidemic in the African country this Wednesday (11), about four months after the last outbreak, which left 55 deaths.

According to WHO criteria, it was possible to determine the end of the epidemic because no new cases of the disease were registered in 42 consecutive days, twice the incubation period of the virus.

“We have successfully controlled the Ebola epidemic”, said minister Jane Ruth Aceng, at a ceremony organized in Mubende.

The suspicion is that the latest outbreak began on September 20 last year in a village in the city, about 150 km west of the capital, Kampala, from a strain of the virus originating in Sudan, which had not been seen since 2012. in Uganda, according to the WHO.

A 24-year-old man had a high fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain, in addition to vomiting blood. After initially being treated for malaria, he was diagnosed with the virus.

Although less transmissible than the Zaire strain, that of Sudan represents a greater threat, as there is still no vaccine ready against it, only tests with three immunizers.

According to Minister Aceng, the population of Uganda has already suffered from seven outbreaks of Ebola, five of them caused by the Sudanese strain, whose origin, she says, is still unknown.

“We congratulate Uganda on its solid and comprehensive response that secured today’s victory against Ebola,” said WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The virus, which already has six different strains registered, is transmitted through contact with body fluids such as saliva, breast milk, blood, feces, urine or semen of those who are infected.

From the time of contagion, the most common symptoms such as fever, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhea appear after the incubation period of the virus, which lasts from 2 to 21 days in the body.