The Ministry of Health has today confirmed an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease in Kampala, Uganda. This follows 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 marks the eighth Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
The confirmed case, designated as the index case, is a 32-year-old male nurse, an employee of Mulago National Referral Hospital who 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 in Wakiso District, and MbaleRegional Referral Hospital in Mbale City, as well as from a traditional healer.
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. The patient experienced multi-organ failure and succumbed to the illness at Mulago National Referral Hospital on 29th January 2025. Post-mortem samples confirmed Sudan Ebola Virus Disease.
Currently, no other health care worker or patient on the ward has presented with signs or symptoms of Ebola.
ABOUT EBOLA
Ebola is a severe and often fatal viral illness. It spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects. The virus can be transmitted through:
• Human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with:
o Blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola.
o Contaminated objects such as medical equipment or personal items that have come into contact with infected body fluids.
• Close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope, or porcupines found sick or dead in the rainforest.
Symptoms of Ebola
A suspected Ebola case may present with any of the following symptoms:
• Sudden onset fever
• Fatigue
• Chest pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Unexplained bleeding
• Yellowing of the eyes
• Restlessness
• Headache
Bleeding manifestations usually appear in later stages after the above symptoms.
INTERVENTIONS BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH
• The Ministry of Health has activated the Incident Management Team and dispatched Rapid Response Teams to both Mbale City and SaidinaAbubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga to list all the contacts and isolate them.
• Our team has also listed all the contacts from Mulago National Referral Hospital and isolated them. A total of 44 contacts have been listed (30 Health workers and patients from Mulago, 11 Family members of the deceased and 4 health workers from Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital). Our teams are in Mbale currently undertaking contact listing and the public will be duly informed.
• Facilities have been identified for isolation of all listed contacts. Any contact that developssymptoms will be transferred to a designated isolation center.
• The Ministry of Health is organizing to carry out dignified burial of the deceased to prevent spread of EVD.
• Vaccination of all contacts of the deceased against Ebola Virus Disease is set to commence immediately. The available doses of the Ebola Vaccine is prioritized for contacts and health workers.
• Our epidemiological team has been dispatched to activate the Regional Emergency Operation Centers in Kampala and Mbale.
APPEAL TO HEALTH WORKERS
The Ministry of Health urges all health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and adhere to strict infection prevention and control measures. Private clinics and healthcare providers must follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and promptly report any suspected cases to the nearest district health authorities for further investigations and management.
APPEAL TO THE RDCs AND DISTRICT LEADERS
The Resident District Commissioners and Resident City Commissioners of Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Mbale City and Mbale District and Mpigi are instructed to activate the Task Forces and inform the Ministry of Health of suspected case.
APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC
The public is strongly urged to:
• Avoid physical contact with individuals exhibiting Ebola symptoms.
• Maintain strict hand hygiene by washing hands regularly with soap and water or using hand sanitizers.
• Avoid direct contact with bodily fluids, including urine, blood, sweat, saliva, vomit, and stool, from suspected Ebola patients.
• Refrain from handling dead bodies of persons with signs similar to Ebola. All burials of suspected and confirmed cases of Ebola should be supervised by designated health teams to ensure safe and dignified procedures.
All public places are advised to institute mandatory handwashing facilities including use of alcohol based hand sanitizers.
CONCLUSION
The Government of Uganda would like to reassure the public that the Ministry of Health is in full control of the situation and continue to safe guard the lives of all people in Uganda.
For any suspected case, please contact the Ministry of Health’s toll-free hotline at 0800-100-066 or send a free SMS to 6767 for immediate response.
The Ministry of Health will continue to provide timely updates about this outbreak.
