Uganda’s health authorities have confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in the capital, Kampala, following the death of a 32-year-old male nurse.
The nurse, who had symptoms such as high fever, chest pain, breathing difficulty, and bleeding from various body parts, passed away from multi-organ failure on Wednesday at Mulago National Hospital in the city center.
This incident marks the eighth reported Ebola outbreak in Uganda since the disease was first detected in the country in 2000.
The outbreak is caused by the Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SUDV), a highly contagious form of hemorrhagic fever spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. It is one of the several strains of the Ebola virus responsible for outbreaks.
Before his death, the nurse visited several medical facilities and even consulted a traditional healer, but it wasn’t until later that the disease was diagnosed. He also sought treatment at a public hospital in Mbale, a town near the Kenyan border.
Health officials have identified 44 individuals who had close contact with the deceased, including 30 healthcare workers, and are actively tracing their whereabouts.
While authorities have deployed rapid response teams to manage the outbreak, the effort faces challenges due to the dense and heavily trafficked nature of Kampala, a city of more than four million residents. Kampala is a major travel hub connecting Uganda with neighboring countries like South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda.
Uganda’s most recent Ebola outbreak occurred in September 2022, centered in Mubende district, and was also caused by the Sudan strain. It was declared over after a four-month containment period.
There are six known Ebola virus types, with Zaire, Bundibugyo, Sudan, and Taï Forest being the ones that cause human infections. The Reston and Bombali strains mainly affect animals.
Unlike the Zaire strain, which has a vaccine available, there is no approved vaccine for Sudan Ebola.
Ebola symptoms typically begin with fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and a sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and bleeding both internally and externally.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ebola has an average fatality rate of about 50%, but in some outbreaks, the death rate has ranged from 25% to 90%, depending on various factors and how the outbreak is handled.