NAIROBI, Kenya (AFP) — Uganda was declared officially Ebola-free by the World Health Organization on Thursday after 42 days without a new case.

The country has been praised for its efforts in preventing the spread of the outbreak that has overwhelmed health facilities in parts of the east of neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“Uganda has reached 42 days since the last confirmed imported Ebola case was discharged on 16 July 2026, with no documented onward transmission associated with the case, marking an end to the outbreak,” the WHO posted on X.

It commended the government, health workers and their partners for “the strong measures taken to contain the outbreak and prevent wider spread”.

The east African country recorded a total of 20 Ebola cases, almost all people who had travelled from DRC, and two deaths.

There have been more than 5,600 confirmed cases in DRC, including more than 2,700 deaths, since the outbreak was declared on May 15. It is considered the fastest-spreading outbreak of the disease on record.