The last person being treated for Ebola Bundibugyo virus in Uganda has been discharged, meaning the active outbreak is now solely in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where the latest case count stands at 2,073 confirmed infections and 796 deaths. 

The outbreak in Uganda involved 20 people and two deaths. Fifteen of the cases were in Congolese nationals, four in healthcare workers, and one in a driver. No transmission chains were ever established in Uganda, and the case-fatality rate was 10%, far lower than what is typically seen in Ebola outbreaks. Officials said the low number of deaths was because of preparedness.

Now the country must wait 42 days, two Ebola transmission cycles, with no new cases before the outbreak can officially be declared over. But Ugandan officials are saying travel restrictions on the country should be lifted now. Fifteen countries have strict restrictions on traveling to and from Uganda, including the United States, restrictions that the Ugandan government said are seriously hindering the nation’s economy. 

“As we make progress in managing this disease, we are engaging and asking those countries with a view to opening up so that the economy does not get injured,” said Uganda’s health minister, Dr Chris Baryomunsi yesterday in a statement to the press. 

Meanwhile in the DRC yesterday, the Nyakunde Hospital in Ituri province was attacked by protesters and several patients fled the building, according to Reuters. The attack came after a woman gave birth at the facility and died shortly after of severe anemia. The hospital said it could not take blood donations offered by family members because of the risk of Ebola. 

The DRC has released a new roadmap to contain the outbreak, which is now the fastest-growing in history. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) applauded the guidelines. 

The roadmap offers emergency and immediate deadlines for early detection, complete contact follow-up, rapid access to care, protection of healthcare workers, and advise for trustworthy community engagement. 

In the past two months, testing capacity as increased in the DRC and more treatment centers have opened, Africa CDC said. 

“The outbreak is moving fast, and we are changing the speed and discipline of the response. The Bunia roadmap puts financing, responsibility and deadlines behind the measures that stop Ebola. Africa has the expertise and operational capacity,” said Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya, MD, MPH. 

“Our task now is to make that capacity reach every affected community quickly enough to save lives and break transmission.”