AA / Kampala, Uganda / Hamza Kyeyune
Uganda’s Ebola outbreak is under control and could be declared over in the coming days, according to Africa’s top public health body.
Uganda announced its latest Ebola outbreak last September. Officials said it was caused by the relatively rare Sudanese strain of the virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment.
The number of infections and deaths has fallen after a virulent first wave, with the overall toll now at 56 deaths and 142 infections, according to the health ministry.
“The last confirmed case was 39 days ago,” said Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, acting director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during a press briefing on Thursday.
“If no new cases are reported by January 10, the outbreak will be definitely under control,” he added.
Ahmed Ogwell Ouma was referring to World Health Organization guidelines, according to which a country is declared free of Ebola virus if no infections are reported for 42 days.
Vaccine trials are also underway in the country, Ouma said.
According to Uganda’s Ministry of Health, there are currently no active cases in the country, while President Yoweri Museveni lifted all restrictions related to the Ebola outbreak last month, saying the country had “conquered Ebola because the people knew how to pay attention”.
*Translated from English by Mourad Belhaj
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