By Ahura Mujuni Mark

Uganda has been declared marburg  free by the  ministry  Health.Uganda  managed to undergo the 42 days of  post-outbreak surveillance without registering any other new case.

The marburg outbreak was announced in October last year and it claimed at least 15 lives .Marburg cases were registered in districts of Mbarara, Ibanda, and Fort Portal.

Minister Christine Ondoa

Addressing journalists in Kabale district on Thursday ,Health Minister Christine Ondoa said that  the last patient of marburg was admitted to the Marburg Virus Isolation Centre at Rushoroza Health Centre III in Kabale  and was discharged on November 15.

Minister Ondoa urged the government to keep emergency funds to handle such outbreaks and was supported by the  representative from the WHO, Dr Rapheal Ndyamuba who said  a standby team of experts should be in place to handle outbreaks.

The ministry also announced that if no case is registered ,Uganda will be declared Ebola free on January 16 .Ebola was announced in Luwero district towards the end of last year.