The Ministry of Health has launched an emergency response following the confirmation of a Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SVD) case in Kampala.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, January 30, 2025, Ministry of health Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine announced that the index case, a 32-year-old male nurse at Mulago National Referral Hospital, developed severe symptoms, including high fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and unexplained bleeding.
According to Dr. Atwine, he sought treatment at multiple facilities, including Mulago, Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga, and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, before succumbing to the illness on January 29. Post-mortem tests confirmed Sudan Ebola Virus Disease.
“We have activated the Incident Management Team and deployed Rapid Response Teams to affected locations to ensure swift containment of the virus,” Atwine said.
Contact tracing efforts have identified 44 individuals at risk, including 30 health workers and patients from Mulago, 11 family members, and four health workers from Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital.
“Our teams are closely monitoring all identified contacts to prevent further transmission,” Atwine stated.
Dr. Atwine confirmed that they are mitigating the spread by ensuring the deceased receives a safe and dignified burial, adding that vaccination of all exposed individuals is set to begin immediately.
Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SVD) is a deadly disease caused by the Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV). It’s a type of hemorrhagic fever that affects humans and non-human primates. Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, and fatigue.
SUDV is spread through close contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids, secretions, or organs. It can also be spread through contact with contaminated surfaces and materials; infected animals, especially fruit bats, are the natural reservoir of the virus.
In 2022, Uganda declared an outbreak of SVD in Mubende District, which ended in January 2023.
