

30 January 2025, 5:48 pm
By Ronald Ssemagonja
The Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease in Kampala following laboratory confirmation from three national reference laboratories: the Central Public Health Laboratory in Kampala, the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, and Makerere University. This announcement was made by Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health. This marks the eighth recorded Ebola outbreak in Uganda. Dr. Atwine was addressing the media at the ministry’s headquarters in Kampala.
According to the ministry, the confirmed case, identified as the index case, was a 32-year-old male nurse employed at Mulago National Referral Hospital. The patient initially developed fever-like symptoms and sought treatment at multiple health facilities, including Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga, Wakiso District, and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in Mbale City.
His symptoms, which included a five-day history of high fever, chest pain, and difficulty in breathing, progressed to unexplained bleeding from multiple body sites. The patient developed multi-organ failure and succumbed to the illness at Mulago National Referral Hospital on January 29, 2025. Postmortem samples confirmed that he was infected with Sudan Ebola Virus Disease.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral illness transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects. It spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood or body fluids of an infected person or someone who has died from Ebola. It can also be transmitted through contaminated objects such as medical equipment or personal items exposed to infected body fluids. Animal-to-human transmission can occur when individuals come into close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or bodily fluids of infected wild animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelopes, or porcupines.
A suspected Ebola case may present with any of the following symptoms: sudden onset of fever, fatigue, chest pain, diarrhea, vomiting, unexplained bleeding, yellowing of the eyes, and continuous headache. In later stages, bleeding manifestations often appear, making early detection and management crucial.
The Ministry of Health has swiftly implemented a series of measures to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread. The Incident Management Team has been activated, and rapid response teams have been dispatched to affected areas, including Mbale City and Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga. The ministry has identified 45 contacts, including 30 health workers and patients from Mulago National Referral Hospital, 11 family members of the deceased, and four health workers from Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital.
Health teams are currently in Mbale conducting additional contact tracing, isolation, and containment measures. Facilities have been designated for isolating all listed contacts. Any contact who develops symptoms will be transferred to a dedicated isolation center for further management.
The ministry is organising a dignified burial for the deceased to prevent further transmission and is also prioritising the vaccination of all contacts of the deceased against Ebola Virus Disease. Available Ebola vaccine doses will be administered first to contacts and healthcare workers.
An epidemiological team has been dispatched to activate regional emergency operation centers in Kampala and Mbale to coordinate the outbreak response. The ministry has issued appeals to various stakeholders to enhance containment efforts. Health workers are urged to maintain a high index of suspicion for suspected Ebola cases and to strictly adhere to infection prevention and control measures to prevent exposure.
Private clinics and healthcare providers must follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and promptly report suspected cases. Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and Resident City Commissioners (RCCs) in Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Mbale City, Mbale District, and Mpigi District have been instructed to activate their Ebola Task Forces. These leaders must inform the Ministry of Health immediately about any suspected cases in their jurisdictions.
The general public has been advised to maintain strict hand hygiene by washing hands regularly with soap and water or using hand sanitisers. They should avoid direct contact with bodily fluids, including blood, sweat, saliva, vomit, urine, and stool from suspected Ebola patients. The handling or burial of bodies of individuals suspected to have died from Ebola should only be conducted by trained medical teams.
Public places such as markets, schools, and transport hubs are advised to implement mandatory handwashing stations and encourage the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers.
The Government of Uganda reassures the public that the Ministry of Health is taking all necessary measures to contain the outbreak and protect lives. Citizens are urged to report suspected cases by calling the ministry’s toll-free hotline at 0800-100-066 or sending a free SMS to 6767 for immediate assistance.
The ministry is fully prepared to combat this outbreak and appeals to the general public to remain calm, emphasising that the country has the necessary capacity to manage the situation, even though the United States has decided to cut aid for three months.