The Ministry of Health has officially confirmed an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SVD) in Kampala after a 32-year-old male nurse from Mulago National Referral Hospital succumbed to the disease on January 29, 2025.
Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, announced the confirmation in an official statement released on Thursday January 30, 2024.
“This case has been confirmed through laboratory tests conducted at the Central Public Health Laboratory, the Uganda Virus Research Institute, and Makerere University. This marks Uganda’s eighth Ebola outbreak.” she stated
The deceased health worker initially sought treatment at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga, and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, as well as from a traditional healer before his condition deteriorated. She notes that he presented with high fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and later, unexplained bleeding before passing away.
Dr. Atwine further noted that while no other healthcare workers or patients have shown symptoms, the Ministry of Health is actively monitoring all contacts to prevent further spread.
“Surveillance teams have been dispatched, and we are closely tracking all individuals who may have come into contact with the patient,” she said.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral disease transmitted through: Direct contact with infected bodily fluids, Contaminated objects such as medical equipment and infected animals, including fruit bats and primates. Symptoms include; High fever, fatigue, chest pain, and headache. Others are Diarrhea, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding
Dr. Atwine has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases immediately.
“We encourage Ugandans to follow all health guidelines and report any Ebola-like symptoms to the nearest health facility,” she emphasized.
The Ministry of Health continues to coordinate response efforts and will provide regular updates as the situation develops.
Uganda’s most recent outbreak of the Sudan strain of Ebola virus occurred between September 2022 and January 2023. The outbreak was declared on September 20, 2022, in Mubende District. By the time it was declared over on January 11, 2023, a total of 164 cases had been reported, comprising 142 confirmed and 22 probable cases. There were 55 confirmed deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of approximately 39%. Additionally, 87 patients recovered from the disease.
The outbreak affected nine districts: Mubende, Kassanda, Kyegegwa, Bunyangabu, Wakiso, Masaka, Jinja, Kampala, and Kagadi. Notably, at least 19 healthcare workers were infected during this period, seven of whom succumbed to the disease.
This was Uganda’s first Sudan ebolavirus outbreak in a decade and the fifth of its kind in the country.
The Sudan strain of the Ebola virus (Sudan ebolavirus) is one of several strains of the Ebola virus, with varying levels of severity, transmission, and fatality. In comparison to other strains like the Zaire strain (the most common and deadly), Sudan Ebola has some distinct features, both in terms of its impact on public health and its treatment challenges.
Sudan ebolavirus generally has a lower mortality rate compared to Zaire. In the 2022-2023 outbreak in Uganda, the CFR was approximately 39%, with 55 deaths out of 142 confirmed cases.Both Sudan and Zaire strains spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people or animals. However, Sudan Ebola tends to spread slightly slower than Zaire, although outbreaks can still be widespread, especially in areas with weak healthcare systems.
There are no specific treatments for Sudan Ebola, though vaccines and experimental treatments developed for other strains, like the Zaire strain, show partial effectiveness against Sudan.
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