KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda has confirmed the first death from Ebola since early 2023, marking the beginning of the country’s ninth outbreak of the disease. A 32-year-old male nurse employed at Mulago National Referral Hospital succumbed to the deadly virus on January 29, having sought treatment at several health facilities before his diagnosis.
According to Diana Atwine, permanent secretary of the Health Ministry, the nurse’s condition deteriorated after he developed fever and other severe symptoms, including multi-organ failure and bleeding from multiple body sites. Despite seeking care at both public and private hospitals as well as consulting traditional healers, he could not be saved. His post-mortem samples confirmed he had contracted the Sudan strain of Ebola, which is known for its lack of approved vaccines.
Following the nurse’s death, health authorities swiftly identified and began tracing at least 44 contacts, comprising 30 health workers and other individuals at the hospital, where the nurse worked. Multiple health officials, including Atwine, assured the public of their containment efforts, stating, “We are fully in control,” and emphasizing the importance of reporting any suspected cases.
Uganda’s latest Ebola outbreak arrives after the last confirmed outbreak, which occurred from September to January 2023, claimed the lives of 55 individuals and infected 143 people. The health ministry is gearing up for immediate action to combat this new outbreak, including initiating vaccination campaigns for all contacts of the deceased nurse, even though there’s no approved vaccine for this specific virus strain.
A significant challenge they face is the urban environment of Kampala, which has over 4 million residents and is known for its high mobility, potentially exacerbated by cross-border traffic to neighboring countries like Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The World Health Organization is supporting Uganda’s response by allocating $1 million from its contingency funds for emergency situations. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated the agency is working collaboratively with Ugandan health authorities to launch what he called “a full-scale response” to both the Ebola outbreak and the concurrent outbreak of Marburg disease declared last week across the border in Tanzania.
With Ebola being transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids, symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, diarrhea, and, critically, internal and external bleeding. The WHO has continuously warned of the high fatality rates associated with Ebola outbreaks, which fluctuate between 25% to 90%, depending on various factors including timely medical intervention.
Past experiences from previous outbreaks have shown Uganda is equipped to tackle such diseases, utilizing improved laboratory testing and public health strategies for contact tracing and community education. Sebastian Nibwede, who led response efforts during the last outbreak, expressed confidence, stating, “We have the means of responding quickly now,” and underscored the importance of learning from the past to handle this crisis effectively.
Contact tracing is deemed pivotal to limiting the spread of the virus. Authorities are focused on monitoring and engaging anyone who may have interacted with the nurse to mitigate the risk of wider community transmission. The nurse had previously traveled from various treatment facilities to Mbale, approximately 240 kilometers (150 miles) from Kampala, illustrating the complexity of quarantine efforts.
Meanwhile, the Ugandan public is urged to practice heightened vigilance during this time, particularly with the dual threats posed by Ebola and the Marburg virus. Authorities have urged families to refrain from traditional burial practices which can often facilitate rapid transmission of infectious diseases.
This outbreak serves as a chilling reminder of the Ebola virus's tenacity and the vulnerabilities surrounding public health infrastructure. Having endured several Ebola outbreaks since its first major incident recorded back in 2000, Uganda faces another test. The recent developments around the Ebola outbreak are unsettling, yet health officials are determined to curb the spread and protect the safety of the public.
Since its recognition, Ebola has remained one of the most severe viral diseases impacting several regions across Africa. The World Health Organization continues to play a significant role, not only monitoring outbreaks but also facilitating research and development for future vaccines and treatments.
For many Ugandans, the re-emergence of Ebola serves as both a concern and reminder of their resilience against past outbreaks seen between 2014 and 2016, when the West Africa epidemic claimed over 11,000 lives. Uganda's proactive measures have led to lower mortality rates during its outbreaks, showcasing the importance of preventive healthcare and disease containment.
Health authorities are continuing to investigate the exact sources of this outbreak, as they have done previously. The Ugandan government, supported by global partners, seems equipped to manage this crisis, but the public remains on alert, aware of the heavy toll previous outbreaks have taken on the population.