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Health authorities in Uganda Thursday, January 30, 2025 confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the capital, Kampala, following the death of a healthcare worker. The announcement has raised alarm, particularly given the city’s dense population and status as a regional transit hub.
The victim, a male nurse stationed at Mulago National Referral Hospital, initially exhibited fever-like symptoms and sought treatment at multiple facilities. His search for relief even extended to a traditional healer before his condition worsened. He was eventually admitted to Mulago Hospital, where he succumbed to multi-organ failure on January 29. Subsequent laboratory tests confirmed he had been infected with the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, a variant for which no approved vaccine currently exists.
Authorities have since identified 44 individuals who had contact with the deceased, including 30 healthcare workers, and efforts are underway to trace and monitor them. However, the outbreak in Kampala—a city of over four million people and a major crossroads for travelers heading to South Sudan, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—has complicated containment efforts.
Uganda has dealt with multiple Ebola outbreaks over the years, the first being recorded in 2000. The most recent, in late 2022, lasted nearly four months before it was officially declared over in January 2023. That outbreak resulted in 143 confirmed infections and 55 deaths, including six medical personnel.
Beyond Kampala, concerns have been raised over the nurse’s movements prior to his death. Health officials confirmed that he had visited Mbale, a town approximately 240 kilometers east of Kampala near the Kenyan border. Surveillance efforts are being extended to the region to assess whether the virus may have spread further.
The Sudan strain of Ebola, while deadly, differs from the more common Zaire strain. Unlike the latter, which has an effective vaccine, the Sudan strain has no fully approved immunization, though experimental doses were deployed in Uganda’s previous outbreak. The government has announced that all identified contacts of the deceased will receive a trial vaccine as a precautionary measure.
Authorities in Uganda have urged the public to remain calm but vigilant, advising anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, vomiting blood, or unexplained bleeding to seek medical attention immediately. With lessons learned from past outbreaks, the country now faces yet another test of its ability to swiftly contain one of the world’s most feared viral threats.
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