Uganda has confirmed on January 30 its first death from Ebola since the 2023 outbreak was declared over, with a male nurse succumbing to the disease in Kampala.
The 32-year-old nurse, who worked at the Mulago National Specialised Hospital, tested positive for the Sudan strain of Ebola after seeking treatment at several hospitals and consulting a traditional healer.
Health officials reported that the nurse died on Wednesday January 29, and his death marks the first case of the disease in Uganda since the previous outbreak ended.
Health Ministry officials, led by Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine, have assured the public that rapid response teams have been deployed and contact tracing is underway to prevent further spread of the virus. Atwine, sharing updates via social media, confirmed that all necessary measures are in place and the situation is under control. However, the densely populated city of Kampala, home to approximately 4 million people, presents significant challenges in tracing and isolating potential contacts. As of now, 44 contacts have been identified, including 30 other healthcare workers who were in close proximity to the deceased nurse.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has pledged its support to Uganda’s containment efforts, allocating $1 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies. Ebola, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials. Healthcare workers and family members caring for the sick are at a higher risk of contracting the virus. While Ebola’s fatality rate typically hovers around 50%, it has fluctuated between 25% and 90% in different outbreaks. The global health community is closely monitoring the situation as Uganda works to contain this new threat.