Kampala – The Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease in Kampala, marking the eighth Ebola outbreak in the country.
The confirmation comes after laboratory tests from three national reference laboratories identified the virus in a 32-year-old male nurse who died on January 29, 2025. The deceased was an employee of Mulago National Referral Hospital.
According to Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the nurse initially developed 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 presented with a five-day history of high fever, chest pain, and difficulty in breathing, which later progressed to unexplained bleeding from multiple body sites. He experienced multi-organ failure and succumbed to the illness at Mulago National Referral Hospital. Post-mortem samples confirmed Sudan Ebola
“The Ministry of Health has activated its Incident Management Team and dispatched Rapid Response Teams to Mbale City and Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital to list and isolate contacts,” Dr. Atwine stated
She noted that a total of 45 contacts have been listed, including 30 health workers and patients from Mulago, 11 family members of the deceased, and four health workers from Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital.
The Ministry of Health urges all health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and adhere to strict infection prevention and control measures. The public is advised to avoid physical contact with individuals exhibiting Ebola symptoms, maintain strict hand hygiene, and avoid direct contact with bodily fluids from suspected Ebola patients.
The Government of Uganda reassures the public that the Ministry of Health is in control of the situation and working to safeguard the lives of all people in Uganda. For any suspected cases, the public can contact the Ministry of Health’s toll-free hotline at 0800-100-066 or send a free SMS to 6767 for immediate response.
About Ebola
Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral illness that spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects. The virus can be transmitted through human-to-human transmission via direct contact with blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola. It can also be spread through contact with contaminated objects, such as medical equipment or personal items.
Symptoms of Ebola may include 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 initial symptoms.