Ebola response efforts in Uganda have recorded a major milestone, with the United Nations confirming no new suspected cases in 17 days, while warning that the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to battle fresh infections.
The United Nations (UN) has announced that Uganda has recorded no new suspected Ebola cases in the past 17 days, describing the development as a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to contain the disease.
UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric disclosed this on Friday during a briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York.
According to Dujarric, the progress reflects the collaborative response led by the Ugandan government, with technical support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and assistance from the UN country team.
He said the response has focused on strengthening contact tracing, expanding laboratory capacity, supporting treatment and infection prevention, enhancing public risk communication and community engagement, and reinforcing health screening at border entry points.
Dujarric noted that the UN and its partners are working with Ugandan authorities to maintain and regularly update the country’s national Ebola response plan over the next six months to ensure continued preparedness against any resurgence of the disease.
While Uganda records encouraging progress, the UN warned that the Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains a major concern.
According to the latest report, the Congolese government has identified two new suspected Ebola cases in Kisangani, Tshopo Province, an area that had not previously recorded infections.
The report stated that one of the suspected cases was linked to the Nia-Nia Health Zone in Ituri Province, where the outbreak was first reported, while the second case had no apparent connection to existing outbreak locations.
The UN also disclosed that the total number of confirmed Ebola cases in the DRC has risen to 1,759, while the death toll has reached 600.
Dujarric said the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has called for accelerated global action to contain the outbreak in the DRC.
He noted that the Inter-Agency Standing Committee has activated a System-Wide Scale-Up to strengthen the Ebola response, while Senior Ebola Coordinator Julien Harnei has been deployed to provide strategic leadership.
According to Dujarric, Fletcher has also approved the release of 60 million dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support Ebola response efforts in the DRC and strengthen preparedness in neighbouring countries, including Uganda, South Sudan and Burundi.
He stressed the need for humanitarian access, urging all parties to keep borders and supply routes open and ensure that pledged donor funds reach frontline responders without delay.
The UN maintained that effective surveillance, laboratory testing, efficient referral systems, infection prevention measures and sustained community engagement remain the strongest tools for preventing the spread of Ebola.
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