WHO and Uganda announce the end of the Ebola outbreak in the country
Doctors at an Ebola center in Mubende, Uganda, September 29, 2022. © Hajarah Nalwadda / AP
Text by: RFI Follow
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The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ugandan authorities announced this Wednesday morning, January 11, the official end of the Ebola epidemic which had been raging in the country since September.
The last patient was declared cured on November 30, so the 42-day deadline for declaring the end of the epidemic has passed.
Hemorrhagic fever claimed 55 lives.
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Despite concerns about the spread of the epidemic to the capital Kampala, Uganda, already affected in 2018-2019, reacted quickly to the virus.
According to the WHO, it was Uganda's experience in epidemic management that helped to stop the spread of the virus.
This is what the regional director of the WHO in Africa underlines in a press release: “
Two months
ago ,
it seemed that Ebola was going to cast a shadow over the country in 2023, but this victory allows us to start the year with a real note of hope for Africa
".
It all started on September 20, 2022, when the authorities confirmed a first case in the district of Mubende, in the center of the country.
Particularity, it is the so-called “
Sudan
” virus, one of the six species of Ebola.
However, to date, there is no approved vaccine specifically against this virus.
Congratulations to #Uganda's government, health workers & communities for your dedication to end the #Ebola outbreak in less than 4 months.
We thank donors & partners for swiftly mobilizing resources, & vaccine developers for making candidate vaccines available in record time.
pic.twitter.com/zRpOkhHBpC
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 11, 2023
Vigilance
Measures are taken quickly: in October, two districts are confined to limit the spread of the epidemic.
But the virus reaches Kampala and its 1.5 million inhabitants in the fall.
Surveillance is reinforced, the rules of isolation too, the bodies of the victims are tested before being buried.
After 164 cases detected in total, there has been no alert since November 30, but
vigilance remains in
order .
The WHO is currently testing treatments on the spot in order to be able to act in the event of a resurgence.
►Also listen: Witnesses to News - Ebola in Uganda: how to stop the spread of the epidemic
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Ebola
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