Uganda Ends Latest Ebola Outbreak With Discharge of Last Patients
Uganda discharged its last eight Ebola patients, with no new cases reported. The World Health Organization recognized the recoveries as a milestone, reflecting effective response efforts. Health officials conducted extensive contact tracing and initiated trials for a vaccine against the Sudan strain, aiming to strengthen future outbreak responses.
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda has discharged its final eight patients who recovered from Ebola, marking an end to the outbreak as no new positive cases have emerged since its declaration last month. The World Health Organization hailed these recoveries as a significant achievement resulting from Uganda’s swift and coordinated response to the crisis.
Most patients were treated at Mulago Referral Hospital in Kampala. The outbreak was first acknowledged when a male nurse passed away on January 29, just before the official declaration made on January 30. Following this, several of his relatives were hospitalized with the virus.
Contact tracing has been pivotal to controlling Ebola’s spread, with Ugandan health officials identifying 265 contacts, 90 of whom have since completed quarantine and monitoring for symptoms. Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng reported this progress at a press conference in Kampala.
Currently, no approved vaccines exist for the Sudan strain of Ebola identified in this outbreak; however, authorities have initiated a clinical study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a trial vaccine as part of their containment strategy.
In a previous outbreak that started in September 2022, Uganda faced significant challenges with at least 55 fatalities recorded before it was declared over four months later. Ebola transmission necessitates contact with infected bodily fluids, and symptoms can include high fever, vomiting, and bleeding, which can be fatal depending on severity.
Historically, the Ebola virus is believed to originate from contact with infected animals or consumption of their raw meat. It was first identified in 1976 during simultaneous outbreaks in South Sudan and Congo. The disease is named after the Ebola River where it was discovered.
Uganda’s successful discharge of the last Ebola patients and the absence of new cases indicate a turnaround in the recent outbreak. Effective contact tracing and the initiation of trials for a vaccine reflect the country’s commitment to preventing further spread. Despite previous challenges, Uganda continues to enhance its response strategies towards managing Ebola outbreaks.
Original Source: apnews.com
