The Ministry of Health has confirmed another outbreak of Sudan Ebola in Kampala, resulting in the death of a 32-year-old male nurse working at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
Confirmation from Multiple Laboratories
Dr. Diana Atwine, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, stated that the diagnosis was confirmed through tests conducted at the Central Public Health Laboratory in Kampala, the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, and Makerere University.
Symptoms and Medical History of the Deceased
The deceased initially presented with fever-like symptoms and sought treatment at Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga, Wakiso District, and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in Mbale City, as well as from a traditional healer.
Dr. Atwine reported that the patient had a five-day history of high fever, chest pain, and difficulty breathing, which later escalated to unexplained bleeding from multiple body sites.
The patient succumbed to multi-organ failure at Mulago Hospital on Wednesday, and postmortem samples confirmed the Sudan virus strain.
Transmission and Symptoms of Sudan Ebola Virus
Dr. Atwine described the Sudan strain as a highly infectious hemorrhagic fever transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects.
It can spread from human to human through broken skin or mucous membranes, or through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected animals such as bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelopes, or porcupines found sick or dead in the rainforest.
Symptoms of the virus include sudden onset fever, fatigue, chest pain, diarrhea, vomiting, unexplained bleeding, yellowing of the eyes, restlessness, and headache. Bleeding manifestations usually appear in later stages.
Ebola Outbreak History in Uganda
This marks Uganda’s eighth Ebola outbreak. The country last experienced an outbreak of the Sudan strain in late 2022, which was declared over on January 11, 2023.
That outbreak resulted in 55 deaths out of 143 reported cases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), since November 24, 2022, a new confirmed case of Sudan Ebola Virus (SUDV) was reported on November 27 in Kassanda District.
By December 2, 2022, the Ministry of Health announced that all SUDV patients had been discharged. Ebola’s fatality rate varies from 25% to 90%, depending on disease management.
In 2022, 20% of the 43 infected individuals in Uganda died, a rate significantly higher than the approximately 3% case-fatality rate of Covid-19.
Comparing Ebola and Covid-19
Dr. Stephen Ataro Ayella, a clinical epidemiologist, highlighted that Ebola is more deadly than Covid-19 due to its rapid spread and severe complications.
Unlike Covid-19, which primarily enters the body through the respiratory system, Ebola can enter through any opening, including the ears and anus, and can be transmitted sexually.
Once inside the body, the virus multiplies rapidly, causing severe complications such as diarrhea, vomiting, and electrolyte imbalances.
Challenges in Managing the Outbreak
One of the major challenges in handling Ebola Sudan is the lack of approved drugs and vaccines. Unlike other strains, no specific treatment exists, making prevention and containment critical.
Government Response and Preventive Measures
Dr. Atwine stated that the Ministry of Health has activated the Incident Management Team and dispatched rapid response teams to Mbale City and Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga to trace and isolate contacts.
A total of 45 contacts have been identified, including 30 healthcare workers and patients from Mulago, 11 family members of the deceased, and four additional healthcare workers.
Healthcare workers have been advised to follow strict infection prevention and control measures, while private clinics must report suspected cases to district health authorities for further investigation.
Urgent Need for Health Worker Protection
The Executive Director of Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu, emphasized the importance of rapid response, contact tracing, and case isolation to control the outbreak.
Dr. Joel Mirembe, Secretary-General of the Uganda Medical Association (UMA), stressed the urgent need for the government to equip healthcare facilities with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to safeguard health workers.
Additionally, he called for the recruitment of new doctors, nurses, and laboratory personnel to address staffing shortages.
Background on Sudan Ebola Virus
Ebola Sudan was first identified in present-day South Sudan in 1976.
According to WHO, it is one of the six known viruses within the Ebolavirus genus and one of the four that cause Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in humans and primates.
As Uganda faces yet another outbreak, swift action, public awareness, and strict health measures remain essential in containing the spread of the Sudan Ebola Virus.
