Uganda declares Ebola outbreak over; border with Congo remains closed

KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda has officially declared the end of its Ebola outbreak after completing a 42-day follow-up period, triggered by the recovery of the last patient on June 14, Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi said. The minister attributed the containment of the outbreak to sustained government investment in public health systems, but warned that the Ebola virus remains a regional threat. Despite the domestic declaration, Ugandan authorities said borders with the Democratic Republic of the Congo will remain closed because case numbers in the neighboring country continue to rise. The decision reflects ongoing concerns about cross-border transmission as Congo battles its own prolonged outbreak. Congo's Health Ministry reported that confirmed Ebola cases in the country have reached 3,262, a figure approaching the 2018-2020 outbreak, the largest in the country's recorded history. No further details on bilateral border coordination were immediately available.