Latest updates

 11 January 2023

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declares the latest Ebola outbreak in Uganda is now over - four months after the first cases there were reported.  

While the latest outbreak in Uganda is at an end, the response and commitment to ending Ebola around the globe continues.

 

19 October 2022

Ugandan health authorities declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) caused by Sudan virus in Uganda on 20 September 2022.

In this outbreak, as of 12 October 2022 there have been 54 confirmed cases reported.

Mubende District is the epicentre of the outbreak, with sporadic cases reported in Kyegegwa, Kasanda, Kagadi, Bunyangabu districts.

As of 12 October 2022, there have been 19 deaths. This means there is a case fatality rate of 35% among confirmed cases in this outbreak.

This is the first EVD outbreak caused by Sudan virus in Uganda since 2012. As of 12 October, there is no evidence that the disease has spread outside of Uganda.

 

Risk assessment

The likelihood of importation to New Zealand is deemed very low based on the small number of cases, the limited spread of disease within Uganda and geographic remoteness of affected areas to New Zealand. If importation does occur, risk of widespread community transmission is deemed very low.

This risk assessment is consistent to others completed internationally including:

  • the UKHSA risk assessment for this event on 06 October 2022 considers the risk to the public in the UK as very low
  • the ECDC risk assessment for this event on 08 October 2022 considers the risk of infection for EU/EEA citizens in relation to this event to be very low.

Updates and additional information can be found at:

Past Ebola alerts

19 July 2019

On 17 July 2019 the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in relation to the ongoing Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

At 17 July 2019 there have been over 2500 confirmed or probable cases of Ebola resulting in over 1600 deaths since the outbreak began in August 2018. The outbreak is predominantly affecting two provinces in the DRC, North Kivu and Ituri. 

Risk assessment

The risk to New Zealand has been identified as low, and no action is required. The WHO has made recommendations for countries that are not directly affected and do not neighbour an affected country:

  • No country should close its borders or place any restrictions on travel and trade. Such measures are usually implemented out of fear and have no basis in science. They push the movement of people and goods to informal border crossings that are not monitored, thus increasing the chances of the spread of disease. Most critically, these restrictions can also compromise local economies and negatively affect response operations from a security and logistics perspective.
  • National authorities should work with airlines and other transport and tourism industries to ensure that they do not exceed WHO’s advice on international traffic.
  • The Committee does not consider entry screening at airports or other ports of entry outside the region to be necessary. 

More information is available on the World Health Organization website

1 August 2018

The World Health Organization was notified by the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in North Kivu province.

Cases have also been subsequently found in the Ituri Province. Between 4 May and 15 October 2018, 216 EVD cases have been reported, of which 181 are confirmed and 35 are probable. The global case fatality rate stands at 64% overall, and at 57% among confirmed cases.

This is the tenth outbreak of EVD over the last four decades in the country.

24 May 2018

The WHO, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and international partners are responding to an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the DRC using a model that was successful in resolving a similar outbreak in 2017. 

The risk to New Zealand from EVD in the DRC is low due to the mode of transmission of the virus, the distance from New Zealand, the low number of travellers coming to New Zealand from the DRC, increased exit screening occurring in the DRC, and the rapid response of the DRC Government and the WHO to manage the outbreak.

29 December 2015

WHO declared Guinea free of Ebola virus transmission, as 42 days have passed since the last confirmed case had a second negative blood test.

9 November 2015 

On 7 November 2015, WHO declared Sierra Leone free of Ebola virus transmission, as 42 days have passed since the last confirmed case had a second negative blood test.

11 May 2015

On 9 May 2015, WHO declared Liberia free of Ebola virus transmission, as 42 days have passed since the last laboratory-confirmed case was buried.

Further information on Ebola