The declaration follows a successful Yellow Fever vaccination campaign conducted in the aftermath of an outbreak confirmed in Uganda on April 8 2016. Seven out of 65 reported cases tested positive to yellow fever in three districts of Masaka, Kalangala and Rukungiri between April and June.
Three of the cases were members of a single family presented to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital with high-grade fever that was non-responsive to anti-malarial treatment. They all had hemorrhagic signs convulsions and unconsciousness.
"Following the successful Yellow Fever vaccination campaign in the affected districts, no new cases of Yellow Fever have been confirmed," Dr Mbonye told a press conference in Kampala.
The Yellow Fever vaccination campaign targeted all the residents of Masaka, Rukungiri and Kalangala districts. A total of 627,706 individuals were vaccinated including 273,447 in Masaka district, 304,605 in Rukungiri district and 49,654 in Kalangala district.
Dr Mbonye says that the public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) successfully coordinated a one-month enhanced Yellow Fever surveillance in 17 districts and found no evidence of any active Yellow Fever transmission between June 1 and June 30 2016.
The districts include Bukomansimbi, Kalungu, Lwengo, Rakai, Lyantonde, Sembabule; Kiruhura, Mbarara, Mitooma, Sheema, Bushenyi, Rubirizi, Ntungamo, Buhweju, Isingiro; Kabale and Kanungu. They are all surrounding the three districts with confirmed cases.
He however adds that disease surveillance efforts are still ongoing to detect any other possible outbreak of Yellow Fever. "Efforts are also still ongoing to ensure that the risk of importation of Yellow Fever through international travel is minimized," Dr Mbonye says.
Yellow fever virus is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, the most common species being Aedes aegypti - the same mosquito that spreads the Zika virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
A small percentage of infected people experience a second more severe phase of illness which includes high fever, jaundice and internal bleeding. At least half of severely affected patients who don't receive treatment die within 10 to 14 days.
The latest outbreak of Yellow Fever in Uganda took place at the same time Angola was grappling with a yellow fever outbreak, which has infected more than 3,867 people and killed 369 - the first epidemic of the disease to hit the country in 30 years.
Dr Stephen Wiersma, the Centre for Disease control country Director Says that Uganda has exercised good outbreak response and good early recognition. He says this indicates great capacity built in Uganda for outbreak Uganda, adding that in the last years Uganda has performed well in managing diseases.
The ministry of health says that despite the progress made in containing the deadly virus, it is mandatory that individuals traveling from Yellow Fever high risk countries into Uganda are fully vaccinated against Yellow Fever before entry into Uganda.
A statement issued this afternoon also urges the public to continuously protect themselves from mosquito bites and report any cases with bleeding tendencies and yellowing of eyes to the nearest health facility.