The world Health Organization has declared Uganda free from the Ebola outbreak after the 42 days countdown, Uganda’s minister of health, Jane Ruth Aceng has reported.
“The country discharged its last known Ebola patient from hospital in December 2022 and has not registered any case for over 42 days required by WHO as a requirement to declare a country free from the outbreak”.
Why it matters: The outbreak of Ebola in the country created a scare on the tourists affecting the already suffering tourism sector which was still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Declaring Uganda free from the outbreak is the best gift to Uganda’s Tourism Industry given the country’s wealth in unique tourism experiences. Uganda is the only home of the endangered mountain gorillas in the world.
The big picture: On September 20th, 2022 Uganda registered it’s first case of Ebola in Mubende, a rural District 90 miles East of the Capital, Kampala.
The outbreak left 55 people killed and 142 others infected by the Ebola Sudan Virus, a species of the Ebola virus.
For almost 4 months of the outbreak, the region was put on lockdown as a mitigation factor to prevent the spread of the virus to other areas of the country.
The outbreak left many tour operators in panic due to the possible effects on the economy in relation to how the outbreak affected Sierra Leone.
By the numbers:
Out of the 142 infections in Uganda, 86 people recovered from Ebola.
Between 2014 and 2016,11,300 people in West Africa died of Ebola mostly in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
6 Ugandan health workers died during the outbreak
What they have to say:
Stephen Okhutu, a travel tech startup founder in Uganda has called upon global travel operators to sensitize tourists about this declaration.
The United States centre for disease control reveals in an article published on their website that Ebola is caused by an infection with a group of viruses within the genus Ebolavirus.
- Ebola virus (species Zaire ebolavirus)
- Sudan virus (species Sudan ebolavirus)
- Taï Forest virus (species Taï Forest ebolavirus, formerly Côte d’Ivoire ebolavirus)
- Bundibugyo virus (species Bundibugyo ebolavirus)
- Reston virus (species Reston ebolavirus)
- Bombali virus (species Bombali ebolavirus).
Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, the virus has been infecting people from time to time, leading to outbreaks in several African countries. Scientists do not know where Ebola virus comes from. Based on similar viruses, they believe EVD is animal-borne, with bats or nonhuman primates being the most likely source. Infected animals carrying the virus can transmit it to other animals, like apes, monkeys, duikers and humans.
The virus first spreads to people through direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of animals. Ebola virus then spreads to other people through direct contact with body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from EVD. This can occur when a person touches these infected body fluids or objects that are contaminated with them. The virus then gets into the body through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth. People can get the virus through sexual contact with someone who is sick with or has recovered from EVD. The virus can persist in certain body fluids, like semen, after recovery from the illness.
Ebola survivors may experience side effects after their recovery. These may include tiredness, muscle aches, eye and vision problems and stomach pain.
