The Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of the Sudan Ebola Virus Disease in Kampala, following laboratory confirmation from three national reference labs.
According to the Ministry of Health permanent secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, the confirmed case is a 32-year-old male nurse who worked at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
“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 Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in Mbale City, as well as from a traditional healer,” Dr.Atwine said.
She stated that the nurse began exhibiting symptoms of the disease and, despite intensive care efforts, succumbed to it yesterday.
“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.”
She said currently, no other health care worker or patient on the ward has presented with signs or symptoms of Ebola.
In response to the outbreak, the ministry has activated the Incident Management Team and dispatched Rapid Response Teams to both Mbale City and Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga
The ministry has also listed 44 contacts (30 Health workers and patients from Mulago, 11 Family Members of the deceased,and 4 health workers from Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga)
Additionally, the deceased will be accorded a safe and dignified burial to prevent spread of the disease
Furthermore, vaccination of all contacts of the deceased against EVD is set to commence immediately targeting contacts of the deceased.
The ministry has put a free toll number for people to report incase of any suspected case, 0800100066.
