By The Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SUDV) in Kampala, following laboratory tests conducted at three national reference laboratories.
The index case is a 32-year-old male nurse from Mulago National Referral Hospital, who initially presented with fever-like symptoms and sought treatment at various health facilities, including traditional healers.
According to Health Ministry Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, the patient exhibited symptoms for five days, including high fever, chest pain, and difficulty in breathing, which later escalated to unexplained bleeding from multiple body sites.
“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,” Dr. Atwine stated.
His condition deteriorated rapidly, resulting in multi-organ failure and ultimately his death on January 29, 2025, at Mulago National Referral Hospital. Post-mortem samples confirmed the presence of SUDV.
This marks Uganda’s seventh recorded Sudan virus outbreak. The most recent outbreak, which ended on January 11, 2023, led to 164 cases and 55 confirmed deaths. Since the first documented outbreak in 2000, Uganda has reported a cumulative total of 325 cases and 224 fatalities.
In response to the outbreak, the Health Ministry has activated an Incident Management Team and deployed Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to affected areas. Health officials are currently tracing and monitoring 44 contacts of the deceased, including health workers and family members who may have been exposed to the virus.
Dr. Atwine has assured the public that vaccination against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) will commence immediately, prioritizing contacts of the deceased to contain further spread.
The Ministry continues to urge vigilance, early reporting of symptoms, and adherence to public health guidelines as efforts to control the outbreak intensify.
