A country’s declaration that Ebola transmission has ended is based on a defined period without new cases, not on the disappearance of regional risk. Uganda completed 42 days of surveillance after its last locally transmitted patient was discharged. That provides a formal threshold for ending the outbreak, while health officials still urged the public to remain alert.\n\nThe report also placed the declaration in a wider East African context. Uganda recorded 20 confirmed cases in the outbreak, while infections were continuing to surge in neighbouring DRC. Cross-border movement, shared transport routes and family links mean national borders cannot be treated as a complete health barrier.\n\nThe practical priorities after an outbreak include tracing unusual illness, protecting health workers, maintaining laboratories and communicating symptoms without stigma. Global Talks will distinguish official case numbers from estimates and explain why surveillance continues after the headline milestone.
Why an outbreak declaration is only one stage of health security
