Uganda declares end of the Sudan Virus Ebola outbreak

The Government of Uganda has announced that the Sudan Virus Ebola outbreak has been completely eradicated, after nearly three months of battling the disease. The declaration came after 42 days had passed since the last patient was discharged from hospital care.

This was the sixth time Ebola had been reported in Uganda, with the latest outbreak occurring between January and April 2025, resulting in four deaths.

The outbreak raised serious concerns, especially as no World Health Organization (WHO)-approved vaccine was available at the time it emerged, although a new vaccine began trials in February 2025.

A statement released by WHO on April 26, 2025, indicated that during the outbreak, 14 suspected cases were recorded, with 12 confirmed positive for Ebola and two considered probable based on laboratory findings.

Out of these, four people died two of them confirmed to have succumbed to Ebola, while two others were classified as probable cases.

WHO further stated that 10 patients who contracted Ebola in Uganda had successfully recovered, underscoring the country’s effective response to the outbreak.

Uganda’s Ministry of Health, through its official X (formerly Twitter) account, declared that "The Sudan Virus Ebola outbreak has been conclusively defeated."

Over the past 50 years, Ebola has claimed the lives of over 15,000 people across Africa, prompting many countries to remain vigilant and prepared to quickly contain any future outbreaks.

Uganda’s health teams, together with international partners, have been praised for their role in successfully ending the outbreak.

Meanwhile, the public has been encouraged to continue practicing preventive measures and to participate in upcoming Ebola vaccine trials.