The Ministry of Health has announced today, January 30, 2025, that an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease has been confirmed in Kampala, Uganda.
This confirmation comes from three national reference laboratories: the Central Public Health Laboratory in Kampala, the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, and Makerere University.
This incident marks the eighth occurrence of Ebola in Uganda.
The confirmed case identified as the index case is a 32-year-old male nurse working at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
He initially experienced fever-like symptoms and sought medical attention at several facilities, including Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga, and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in Mbale City, as well as consulting a traditional healer.
Dr. Diana Kanzira Atwine, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, reported that the patient had a five-day history of high fever, chest pain, and breathing difficulties, which eventually escalated to unexplained bleeding from various parts of his body.
“The patient experienced multi-organ failure and succumbed to the illness at Mulago National Referral Hospital on 29th January 2025. Post-mortem samples confirmed Sudan Ebola,” he added.
She mentioned that there are no other healthcare workers or patients in the ward showing any signs or symptoms of Ebola.
What is Ebola?
Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral illness. It spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects. The virus can be transmitted through:
Human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with:
Blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola.
Contaminated objects such as medical equipment or personal items that have come into contact with infected body fluids. Close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope, or porcupines found sick or dead in the rainforest.
Symptoms
A suspected Ebola case may present with any of the following symptoms including: sudden onset fever, fatigue, chest pain, diarrhea, vomiting, unexplained bleeding, yellowing of the eyes, restlessness and headache.
Bleeding manifestations usually appear in later stages after the above symptoms.
Interventions
Atwine noted that the ministry has activated the Incident Management Team and dispatched Rapid Response Teams to both Mbale City and Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga to list all the contacts and isolate them.
The team has also listed all the contacts from Mulago National Referral Hospital and isolated them.
She said a total of 45 contacts have been listed (30 Health workers and patients from Mulago, 11 Family members of the deceased and 4 health workers from Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital).
The teams have also been dispatched in Mbale currently undertaking contact listing and the public will be duly informed.
“Facilities have been identified for isolation of all listed contacts. Any contact that develops symptoms will be transferred to a designated isolation center. The Ministry of Health is organizing to carry out dignified burial of the deceased to prevent spread of EVD,” she added.
She noted that vaccination of all contacts of the deceased against Ebola Virus Disease is set to commence immediately.
Atwine said the available doses of the Ebola Vaccine is prioritized for contacts and health workers.
She noted that epidemiological team has been dispatched to activate the Regional Emergency Operation Centers in Kampala and Mbale.
She appealed to all health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and adhere to strict infection prevention and control.
