The Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SVD) in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, after samples from three National Reference Laboratories tested positive.
The Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Diana Atwine, revealed that health officials had confirmed an index case of a 32-year-old male nurse from Mulago National Referral Hospital.
According to the Ministry, the patient initially presented fever-like symptoms and sought treatment at multiple health facilities, including Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga (Wakiso District), and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital in Mbale City.
“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,” Atwine said.
“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 added.
She emphasized that the ministry was closely monitoring the situation.
“Currently, no other healthcare worker or patient on the ward has presented with signs or symptoms of Ebola,” she noted.
In response to the outbreak, health authorities have activated an Incident Management Team and dispatched Rapid Response Teams to Mbale City and Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga.
“We have identified 44 contacts so far—30 health workers and patients from Mulago, 11 family members of the deceased, and four health workers from Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga,” Atwine stated.
The ministry has also pledged strict containment measures.
“The deceased will be accorded a safe and dignified burial to prevent further spread of the disease. Additionally, vaccination of all contacts of the deceased against Ebola Virus Disease is set to commence immediately,” she added.
Atwine reassured the public that efforts were in place to control the outbreak.
“The Ministry of Health would like to reassure the public that we are in full control of the situation and continue to safeguard the lives of all people in Uganda. Please report any suspected case of Ebola to our toll-free line, 0800-100-066, or the nearest health facility,” she urged.
Sudan ebolavirus is a member of the Ebolavirus genus in the Filoviridae family. It was first identified in 1977 and causes a disease similar to the Zaire ebolavirus strain, though it is less transmissible. Unlike Zaire Ebola, no licensed vaccine exists for Sudan ebolavirus, making containment efforts crucial.
