Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak: Uganda’s Urgent Response to Sudan Strain

The Sudan Ebola virus disease outbreak was declared in Kampala, Uganda, on January 30, 2025, following a confirmed case in a male nurse. The outbreak presents a severe public health risk with a 100% fatality rate so far. Response efforts are focused on contact tracing, healthcare worker protection, community engagement, and promoting safe burial conducts to prevent further spread.

In January 2025, Uganda’s Ministry of Health announced a new outbreak of the Sudan strain of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Kampala City after confirming a positive case. This marks the eighth Ebola outbreak in the country, with the index case being a 32-year-old male nurse at Mulago National Referral Hospital, who displayed severe symptoms, including high fever and bleeding, before passing away. Emergency response measures have been initiated due to the disease’s alarming potential for rapid transmission.

The situation has a significant impact on the public, affecting livelihoods and compromising socio-economic stability. As of the outbreak declaration, there is one reported case and corresponding death, putting the case fatality rate at 100%. Though cases have only been reported in Kampala, the nurse’s travel history to Wakiso and Mbale districts raises concern, and health officials are actively tracing contacts while conducting tests.

Kampala’s status as the capital city and a primary business center increases the likelihood of transmission within the metropolitan area, especially in adjacent districts such as Mpigi, Wakiso, and Mukono. The nurse’s medical consultations in Mbale and visits to traditional healers further extend the outbreak risk. Given that the index case worked as a healthcare provider, other healthcare workers are now particularly vulnerable to infection.

Symptoms of Ebola include high fever, fatigue, headaches, vomiting, abdominal pain, and potential severe bleeding. Practices such as caring for individuals with Ebola symptoms and unsafe burial customs further exacerbate transmission. Uganda’s latest previous outbreak, which started in Mubende district in 2022, further highlights the challenges faced, with over 140 confirmed cases and numerous fatalities, including among healthcare personnel.

Targeted support is essential for high-risk groups such as healthcare workers, children under age 10, and men aged 20-39 to mitigate the spread and mortality rates. Critical response strategies must include community engagement, thorough contact tracing, provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the promotion of safe burial methods and hygiene practices to prevent further infections.

The Sudan Ebola outbreak in Uganda necessitates urgent intervention as it holds high fatality potential and poses a public health threat. Effective containment measures, community awareness, and protective actions are critical in mitigating the spread. Prioritizing vulnerable populations and improving healthcare facilities’ readiness will bolster efforts to curb the outbreak and safeguard lives.

Original Source: reliefweb.int