Kampala. Uganda has formally declared the tip of the Ebola illness outbreak, which was confirmed on 30 January 2025 by Uganda’s Ministry of Well being. The outbreak contaminated 14 individuals, two of whom have been possible (not confirmed by laboratory assessments) and triggered 4 deaths (together with two possible).
Illness outbreaks, corresponding to Ebola, Marburg, and yellow fever, will not be new in Uganda. The nation has confronted a number of outbreaks and, in doing so, has constructed a resilient well being system able to detecting and containing outbreaks quickly. With energetic help from the World Well being Group (WHO) and different companions, this outbreak once more demonstrated Uganda’s capability to take care of such challenges.
The most recent Ebola illness outbreak occurred within the bustling, extremely cell metropolis of Kampala. In lots of locations, such an announcement might have triggered widespread panic. However, inside 72 hours of affirmation, the Ministry of Well being, actively supported by the WHO and well being companions, activated its response mechanisms. Fast response groups have been deployed on the bottom, figuring out contacts to the confirmed affected person, accumulating samples for testing, organising remedy items, and educating the neighborhood about Ebola prevention.
Equally, inside 24 hours of notification, the WHO Deputy Director Normal and Government Director for Emergencies, Dr Mike Ryan, was in Uganda to information WHO’s strategic and operational help to the response.
“The outbreak occurring in an city setting is of great concern to us, given previous experiences. On this outbreak, each minute is of the essence, and we should arrange quickly to avert a possible catastrophe,” stated Dr Mike Ryan upon arrival within the nation.
WHO mobilized 129 nationwide and worldwide workers to help the response. They introduced a wealth of technical experience, making certain that WHO’s enter was current at each vital stage.
The affect of those efforts was rapidly evident. On 14 March 2025, the final confirmed affected person was discharged, and 534 contacts had been efficiently recognized and adopted up every day. That is no imply achievement given the realm through which the outbreak occurred. It’s a testomony to Uganda’s strengthened capability to detect and reply to illness outbreaks in keeping with the Worldwide Well being Laws (2005) (IHR), for which WHO is the principal custodian.
Uganda has now accomplished the 42-day obligatory countdown with no confirmed Ebola case. Throughout this vital interval, WHO labored intently with the Ministry of Well being to conduct energetic case search and mortality surveillance to make sure that no potential chains of transmission went undetected.
It’s essential to acknowledge the groundwork that made this speedy response attainable. WHO’s presence on the bottom by way of its regional hubs and prior technical management in serving to Uganda develop a multisectoral preparedness and response plan have been pivotal. These offered clear path for all responding actors, enabling efficient coordination, optimizing useful resource allocation, and stopping duplication.
One other key enabler was the swift deployment by WHO of 165 multidisciplinary Fast Response Crew members (RRTs) to hotspot districts. These members strengthened native capability for alert administration, case investigation, and phone tracing, even in distant areas. Backed by WHO’s technical coaching and instruments, the RRTs labored hand in hand with district groups to make sure that no case went undetected. This robust collaboration helped halt the additional unfold of the illness.
Particular consideration was additionally given to frame well being. With the worldwide crucial to stop cross-border transmission, well being employees have been quickly reoriented, thermal scanners have been deployed, and screening protocols have been enforced at 13 key entry factors, particularly at Entebbe Worldwide Airport.
The laboratory response was equally strong. Over 1500 samples have been collected, transported, and examined, with nationwide labs rising to the problem. Because of WHO’s prior technical help, Uganda had the capability to handle samples underneath strict biosafety and high quality requirements. Laboratory groups on the Uganda Virus Analysis Institute and Central Public Well being Laboratories dealt with the workload professionally and effectively, incomes reward for his or her fast turnaround.
On the coronary heart of the response was a brave and well-prepared case administration crew. Geared up with WHO Ebola provides designed to guard well being employees and help scientific care, they handled sufferers with professionalism and care. Of the 12 confirmed instances, two sufferers succumbed, whereas the remainder have been efficiently handled and reintegrated into their communities. Two possible instances have been recognized after their dying, due to this fact not managed within the remedy middle.
WHO-supported 78 Emergency Medical Groups (EMTs) additional bolstered case administration efforts. These extremely skilled and well-equipped groups ensured the secure transportation and remedy of sufferers throughout affected areas, delivering high-quality care at each step.
For the second time in an Ebola outbreak brought on by the Sudan virus in Uganda, WHO deployed anthropologists, threat communication specialists, and neighborhood engagement groups. These specialists labored straight with communities to handle stigma, distrust, and misinformation, whereas offering real-time public well being data. Their efforts have been instrumental in gaining belief and reinforcing security practices.
Regardless of the absence of a licensed vaccine towards the Sudan virus, candidate vaccines are in varied phases of scientific trials, really helpful by the impartial WHO candidate vaccine prioritisation working group. Inside 4 days of the federal government’s declaration of the outbreak, a randomized scientific trial for vaccine security and efficacy utilizing the ring vaccination strategy was launched. As well as, the administration of Remdesivir remedy underneath the Monitored Emergency Use of Unregistered and Experimental Interventions (MEURI) protocol was initiated.
Ecological research aimed toward figuring out the supply of an infection have been initiated and are persevering with. These are essential as a result of they assist to anticipate dangers of outbreaks in addition to guarantee well being programs are effectively ready and able to detect outbreaks early and reply successfully.
Behind the scenes, coordination and companion engagement performed essential roles. WHO was liable for aligning assets, decreasing duplication, and maximizing affect. By means of its coordination position, WHO mapped out key stakeholders and facilitated efficient useful resource use in any respect ranges of the response.
No profitable outbreak response is full with out enough monetary backing. Up to now, WHO has mobilized and utilized US $6.2 million for this response. This help, together with in-kind contributions of important medicines, provides, and tools, has been very important in sustaining the momentum of operations.
WHO acknowledges and deeply appreciates all companions who contributed by way of the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE), together with: Germany, Norway, Eire, Canada, France, New Zealand, Kuwait, Portugal, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Estonia, and the WHO Basis. Because of the UK, the Republic of Eire, the Netherlands, the European Fee – Well being Emergency Preparedness and Response (HERA), Worldwide Growth Analysis Centre (IDRC), European Fee – European Civil Safety and Humanitarian Support Operations (DG ECHO) and the African Public Well being Emergency Fund (APHEF) for supporting WHO’s interventions.
Because the state of affairs in Uganda stabilizes, this outbreak highlights three clear classes: early preparedness saves lives, speedy response is vital, and WHO’s help stays very important, not just for Uganda, however for world well being safety.