Uganda has reported its first Ebola death since the end of its last outbreak in early 2023, raising concerns about a new wave of the deadly virus in East Africa.
A 32-year-old male nurse from Kampala’s Mulago Hospital died on Wednesday after testing positive for the Sudan strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine.
Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine confirmed that authorities have identified 44 potential contacts, including 30 health care workers and patients at Mulago Hospital. The case is particularly concerning due to the victim’s movements through multiple health care facilities and his visit to a traditional healer before his death.
The outbreak poses unique challenges in Kampala, a densely populated city of 4 million people known for its highly mobile population. The infected nurse sought treatment at various locations, including a hospital outside Kampala and another in Mbale, eastern Uganda, potentially widening the exposure zone.
This new case emerges amid a series of viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in East Africa, including an ongoing Marburg disease outbreak in neighboring Tanzania that has claimed at least two lives. Rwanda recently declared the end of its own Marburg outbreak in December.
Uganda’s previous Ebola outbreak, which ended in January 2023, resulted in 55 deaths. Dr. Emmanuel Batiibwe, who helped lead Uganda’s 2022 outbreak response, expressed confidence in the country’s ability to respond swiftly based on recent experience.
Health officials emphasize that contact tracing is crucial for containing the spread, particularly challenging given the absence of approved vaccines for the Sudan strain. The Ministry of Health has assured the public they are “in full control of the situation” while urging vigilance in reporting suspected cases.
Read more: Hospital nurse in Uganda dies in country’s first Ebola outbreak in 2 years
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