Uganda has officially declared the end of its latest Ebola outbreak. A total of 20 confirmed cases were reported, resulting in two deaths. Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi announced on Tuesday that no new cases had been detected following the implementation of enhanced epidemiological surveillance. The outbreak was first declared in mid-May.
Of the 20 confirmed cases, 15 were linked to the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), which remains the epicenter of the ongoing epidemic. The highest number of cases has been recorded in the eastern province of Ituri, which borders Uganda.
Epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo
In the DR Congo, the number of confirmed cases has nearly reached record levels. According to the country’s Ministry of Health, 3,262 cases of infection have been reported, with 1,437 resulting in death. During the largest outbreak in the DR Congo and Uganda from 2018-2020, there were more than 3,400 cases and over 2,200 deaths. An even larger epidemic affected West African countries from 2014 to 2016, impacting tens of thousands of people.
According to medical professionals, the current epidemic is spreading much more rapidly and is associated with the Bundibugyo strain, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. “The fact that we are recording almost the same number of cases in just ten weeks as during the nearly two-year outbreak is of serious concern,” said Onesphore Bangenza, head of the Mercy Corps humanitarian organization team in Bunia, the administrative center of Ituri province, on Tuesday. He added: “Undoubtedly, the virus is spreading faster than we can contain it.”
Challenges in Combating the Spread of the Virus
The epidemic is complicated by violence from rebel groups in eastern Congo and strikes by medical workers demanding overdue wages. An additional challenge is the inability to identify “patient zero.” Thousands of individuals who came into contact with the infected are difficult to trace due to population movements, armed conflicts, and illegal mining activities.
At the same time, medical professionals report a gradual increase in local residents’ trust in their efforts. “We must never again obstruct the work of medical teams fighting Ebola,” said Fabrice Mumbesa, a resident of the mining town of Mongwalu, where local residents burned several treatment centers at the outbreak’s onset. He added: “We have lost members of our families. As a community, we are interested in defeating Ebola and returning to normal life.”
Source: Der Spiegel
