Uganda has confirmed an Ebola outbreak in Kampala after a 32-year-old man died from the virus, health officials said on Thursday.
The man succumbed to the illness on Wednesday at Mulago National Referral Hospital. Diana Atwine, the health ministry’s permanent secretary, confirmed he had the Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SUDV) strain.
Authorities are tracking at least 44 contacts, including 30 health workers, to prevent the spread. Kampala’s status as a travel hub complicates this effort.
Ebola spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissues, causing fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, and bleeding. “Bleeding manifestations usually appear in later stages, after the above symptoms,” Atwine stated.
Russia’s human welfare watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, has offered to help.
“Rospotrebnadzor is in contact with its Ugandan colleagues and has sent proposals to assist in conducting an epidemiological investigation and anti-epidemic measures,” it said.
Russia delivered a mobile laboratory to Kampala earlier in 2024 for rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases.
This is Uganda’s first confirmed Ebola fatality since 2023.
The last major outbreak, caused by the same strain, was declared over in early 2023. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the virus kills five out of every ten infected persons.
Earlier this month, Tanzania confirmed a Marburg virus outbreak in its Kagera region.
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