Attachments
- Appeal: MDRUG055
- DREF Allocation: CHF 568,661
- People Affected: 1,351,045 people
- People Targeted: 520,000 people
- Operation Start Date: 07-02-2025
- Operation Timeframe: 4 months Operation
- End Date: 30-06-2025
Description of the Event
Date when the trigger was met
What happened, where and when?
In a statement issued on 30th January 2025, the Ministry of Health notified the public of a positive case of Ebola virus disease hence declaring an outbreak of the Sudan strain of Ebola virus disease (SUVD) in the Kampala City. Following reference from three national laboratories namely, the Central Public Health Laboratories, Uganda Virus Research Institute and Makerere University laboratories, the Ministry of health declared the eighth Ebola Outbreak in the country.
The Index case was a 32-year-old male nurse, an employee at Mulago National Referral Hospital. He presented with fever-like symptoms, sought for treatment from multiple health facilities including Mulago national referral hospital in Kampala, Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga Wakiso district, and Mbale Regional referral hospital as well as a traditional healer. The patient presented with a veday history of high fever, chest pain, diculty in breathing and later progressed to unexplained bleeding from multiple body sites. The patient suffered multiple organ failure and later succumbed to the illness at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
Scope and Scale
The Ebola Sudan Virus disease outbreak has signicant potential to produce negative impacts on lives, livelihoods, well-being, and socio-economical stability due to general disruption of public and private services or activities. Following its declaration on 30th January 2025, the MOH reported one confirmed a case and death placing the case fatality rate at 100%. Currently, the outbreak has only been reported in Kampala, however the index case reported travels in different districts including Wakiso and Mbale during the course of his illness. Even though no case has been reported in either of the districts, the MOH emergency response team has line listed contacts from the districts, and testing is underway.
Kampala being the country’s capital and most important business hub, there is increased risk of transmission in the Kampala metropolitan area districts including Mpigi, Wakiso and Mukono. Additionally, the index case sought medical care from Mbale regional referral hospital in Mbale district and a traditional healer within the same region, thus spreading the risk further into Eastern Uganda. The family (child and domestic assistant) of the index case were also reportedly dropped at the in Jinja when the body was being moved to Mbale for burial.
The index case was a health worker at the national referral hospital who may have been attending to patients during the initial phases of the clinical illness. Therefore, the general public is at risk with healthcare workers, patient care givers at the highest risk.
The disease presents with high fever and may cause severe bleeding in some cases. Other signs and symptoms may include, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bleeding or bruising. Risky behaviors, such as touching or caring for someone with Ebola symptoms, attending funerals or burial ceremonies where Ebola protocols are not followed, eating bush meat or other wild animals, and not practicing proper hygiene and sanitation, increase the risk of transmission of the viral disease. Traditional burial practices, which involve direct contact with the deceased, are particularly high-risk.
In Uganda, the most previous outbreak of the Sudan Ebola virus started in Mubende district in 2022, spread to other 8 districts including Kampala and Wakiso leading 142 confirmed cases and 55 deaths in addition to 22 probable cases died before samples could be obtained for confirmation. At least 19 healthcare workers were infected of whom seven died during the outbreak. The most vulnerable populations, including healthcare workers, children under 10, and men aged 20-39, require targeted support and protection to prevent further transmission and reduce the risk of mortality. Effective response efforts must prioritize community engagement, contact tracing, and provision of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to healthcare workers, as well as promote safe burial practices and discourage risky behaviors.