Uganda Discharges Last Ebola Patient as Outbreak Persists in DR Congo

Uganda discharged the last patient being treated for Ebola from hospital roughly two weeks ago, health officials said, marking the effective end of its latest outbreak. The case belonged to a cluster identified earlier this year, and no new infections have emerged since. Ugandan authorities credited rapid isolation of suspected cases and swift contact-tracing in affected districts for containing the spread.

The picture differs sharply in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, where the same Ebola virus strain continues spreading across several provinces. Local health workers report new confirmed cases on an ongoing basis, and containment has been complicated by insecurity and limited access to some affected areas. The contrast has drawn attention from regional health bodies.

Public health specialists attribute Uganda's success to lessons drawn from earlier outbreaks, including faster treatment-center deployment and community engagement. The World Health Organization is monitoring both countries and supporting surveillance and vaccination efforts. Officials note that cross-border movement between the two nations remains a risk that could yet complicate Uganda's containment gains if not closely managed.