Uganda’s ministry of Health has confirmed a new outbreak of the Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SVD) following the death of a male nurse at Mulago national referral hospital.
Dr Diana Atwine, the ministry’s permanent secretary, announced that the 32-year-old nurse, who also worked at Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga, passed away on Wednesday evening, January 29.
She said 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.
Authorities have identified 44 contacts, including the nurse’s family members, fellow health workers, and a traditional healer in Mbale. The ministry has assured that all contacts will be vaccinated, and the deceased will receive a dignified burial in line with Ebola containment protocols.
“The patient experienced multi-organ failure and succumbed to the illness at Mulago National Referral Hospital. Post-mortem samples confirmed Sudan Ebola Virus Disease,” Atwine stated.
Ebola is a highly infectious hemorrhagic fever spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or tissue. Symptoms include severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting blood, and internal bleeding.
Uganda last battled an Ebola outbreak in late 2022, which was officially declared over on January 11, 2023. That outbreak lasted nearly four months, infecting 143 people and claiming 55 lives, including six health workers.
Health authorities are now working to prevent further spread and protect frontline workers as they respond to the latest outbreak.