Uganda has successfully discharged eight patients who recovered from the Sudan strain of Ebola after they tested negative twice for the virus, health officials have confirmed on February 19. Although one person has died and eight others have been infected since the outbreak was first reported last month, authorities remain vigilant with 265 individuals currently under quarantine and monitoring. This marks the eighth Ebola outbreak in Uganda since the country recorded its first case in 2000.
The Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SUDV), a highly contagious haemorrhagic fever transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissues, has caused significant concern. Unlike the more commonly known Zaire Ebola virus, the Sudan strain lacks an approved vaccine. However, in response to the outbreak, the Ugandan government began trial vaccinations earlier this month. The current outbreak has resulted in a low fatality rate, with only one reported death, a 32-year-old male nurse.
Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero expressed hope that the eight discharged patients would be reintegrated into their communities without stigma. She encouraged families and the wider community to treat the survivors normally, emphasising the importance of maintaining social acceptance. The World Health Organization (WHO) described the recovery of these patients as a significant milestone in efforts to control the outbreak, which has so far shown a relatively low fatality rate compared to previous occurrences of the Sudan strain.