In an encouraging development in Uganda's Ebola Sudan outbreak, all eight patients who were hospitalized for treatment have been released from medical care after testing negative for the virus twice in tests conducted 72 hours apart, the World Health Organization (WHO) regional office for Africa said today.

The patients were receiving treatment in the capital city Kampala and in Mbale. Contact monitoring is still under way for 216 people who are at quarantine facilities located throughout the country.
Kasonde Mwinga, MD, the WHO's representative in Uganda, said the discharge of patients are an important milestone in efforts to control the virus. "While we welcome this positive step, we remain steadfastly on course, working with our partners to support the government to halt this virus and end the outbreak."
The outbreak began in late January and marked Uganda's first since 2022 and the world's ninth involving Ebola Sudan. Five of the earlier outbreaks had been in Uganda, which is known for its skill in battling the virus.
Death rate much lower than in earlier outbreaks
So far, the outbreak total stands at nine cases and one death, which involved the index patient, a 32-year-old male nurse who had worked at a referral hospital in Kampala. The case-fatality rate (CFR) stands at 11.1%, which is much lower than the CFR of 41% to 100% seen in earlier outbreaks involving Ebola Sudan.
Uganda's latest outbreak triggered a swift response from health partners, including the WHO, which deployed 47 experts, delivered 7 tons of emergency medical supplies, and took several other steps to support the country's response. The outbreak also saw a quick launch of a trial of a candidate Ebola Sudan vaccine, which is from the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, a nonprofit vaccine research organization based in New York City.