The Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SVD) in Kampala following confirmation from three National Reference Laboratories. The announcement was made by Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, after extensive testing and investigation.

The first confirmed case, referred to as the index case, was a 32-year-old male nurse employed at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala. Dr. Atwine reported that the patient, who had developed fever-like symptoms, initially sought treatment at multiple health facilities. These included Mulago National Referral Hospital, Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga (Wakiso District), and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in Mbale City. The nurse also consulted a traditional healer during his illness.

The patient presented with a five-day history of high fever, chest pain, and difficulty breathing, symptoms which worsened over time. Tragically, his condition deteriorated, leading to unexplained bleeding from several body sites and multi-organ failure. He passed away at Mulago National Referral Hospital on January 29, 2025. Post-mortem samples confirmed that he had contracted Sudan Ebola Virus Disease, a severe and often fatal illness.

Dr. Atwine reassured the public that no other healthcare workers or patients at the hospital had exhibited symptoms of Ebola at the time of reporting. “At present, no other healthcare worker or patient on the ward has shown symptoms of Ebola,” she confirmed.

In response to the outbreak, the Ministry of Health has activated its Incident Management Team to coordinate the response. Rapid Response Teams have been deployed to Mbale City and Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga to assess and contain the spread of the virus. As part of these efforts, 44 contacts have been identified, including 30 healthcare workers and patients from Mulago National Referral Hospital, 11 family members of the deceased, and four healthcare workers from Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital.

To further mitigate the risk, the deceased will be given a safe and dignified burial to prevent the spread of the disease. Vaccination of all identified contacts will begin immediately, with priority given to healthcare workers and family members of the deceased.

Sudan Ebola Virus Disease, caused by the Sudan ebolavirus, is highly contagious and often fatal. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and internal or external bleeding. The disease can be transmitted through contact with infected animals, especially fruit bats, as well as through close contact with bodily fluids of an infected person.

The Ministry of Health is urging the public to remain alert and report any suspected cases of Ebola Virus Disease to health authorities promptly. The Ministry also reassured the public that preventive measures, including vaccination of contacts and strict hygiene protocols, are being enforced to prevent further spread of the disease.

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