By Fanuel Chinowaita
MUTARE, Zimbabwe, 30 January 2025 – The Ugandan Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of the Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Kampala, marking the country’s eighth Ebola outbreak.
The announcement was made on 30th January 2025, following laboratory confirmation from three national reference laboratories: the Central Public Health Laboratory in Kampala, the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, and Makerere University.
The index case, a 32-year-old male nurse employed at Mulago National Referral Hospital, initially presented with fever-like symptoms and sought treatment at multiple health facilities, including Mulago National Referral Hospital, Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga, and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.
The patient, who also consulted a traditional healer, succumbed to the illness on 29th January 2025 after experiencing multi-organ failure and unexplained bleeding. Post-mortem samples confirmed the presence of the Sudan Ebola Virus.
In response to the outbreak, the Ugandan Ministry of Health has activated its Incident Management Team and dispatched Rapid Response Teams to affected areas, including Mbale City and Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital. A total of 45 contacts have been identified and isolated, with 30 being health workers and patients from Mulago Hospital, 11 family members of the deceased, and four health workers from Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital.
Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, reassured the public, stating, “The Ministry of Health is in full control of the situation and continues to safeguard the lives of all people in Uganda.” She emphasized the importance of public cooperation, urging, “The public is strongly urged to avoid physical contact with individuals exhibiting Ebola symptoms, maintain strict hand hygiene, and refrain from handling dead bodies of suspected Ebola cases.”
The Ministry has also initiated vaccination of all contacts of the deceased and health workers, prioritizing the available doses of the Ebola vaccine.
Additionally, facilities have been identified for the isolation of contacts, and any symptomatic individuals will be transferred to designated isolation centers.
Health workers have been advised to adhere to strict infection prevention and control measures. Dr. Atwine appealed to healthcare providers, stating, “All health workers must maintain a high index of suspicion and follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Private clinics and healthcare providers must promptly report any suspected cases to the nearest district health authorities for further investigations and management.”
District leaders have been instructed to activate task forces and report any suspected cases promptly. Dr. Atwine also highlighted the importance of timely updates, saying, “The Ministry of Health will continue to provide timely updates about this outbreak to keep the public informed.”
This outbreak serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by Ebola in the region, and the need for continued vigilance and preparedness.