The Ugandan Ministry of Health has confirmed an Ebola outbreak in the capital, Kampala, following the death of a male nurse at Mulago National Referral Hospital. The nurse, who showed fever-like symptoms, sought medical help at several facilities, including a traditional healer, before dying on January 29.
Health officials said post-mortem tests confirmed that he had the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus disease (EVD). This strain has no approved vaccine, making the outbreak a serious concern.
Following the nurse’s death, authorities have identified 44 individuals who had contact with him, including 30 healthcare workers. The government has started tracing efforts, but health officials say this will be difficult due to Kampala’s large population of over four million people and its role as a major transit hub for neighboring countries, including South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda.
“The patient experienced multi-organ failure and succumbed to the illness at Mulago National Referral Hospital on Jan. 29. Post-mortem samples confirmed the Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (strain),” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
Ebola is a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever that spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids. Its symptoms include severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting blood, and internal bleeding.
The Ugandan government has activated emergency response measures, including contact tracing, patient care, and containment efforts. Health officials say they are using experience gained from previous Ebola outbreaks to control the spread of the virus.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies are working with Uganda to strengthen surveillance and response efforts.
According to Reuters, this is Uganda’s ninth recorded Ebola outbreak since the first case in 2000. The most recent outbreak occurred in late 2022, infecting 143 people and claiming 55 lives, including six healthcare workers. That outbreak lasted nearly four months before being declared over in January 2023.
“This is a concerning situation, especially since the Sudan strain has no approved vaccine,” a senior health official noted.
During the 2022 outbreak, Uganda received experimental vaccine doses, but there is no widely approved vaccine for this particular strain of the virus.
Health officials have announced plans to vaccinate all identified contacts of the deceased nurse to reduce the risk of further spread. However, they acknowledge that the lack of an approved vaccine for the Sudan strain poses a major challenge.
For now, Uganda remains on high alert as health authorities race to contain the outbreak before it spreads further. The government is urging the public to report symptoms early and avoid close contact with infected individuals.