In a press statement released on January 29, 2025, Uganda’s Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Kampala, Uganda. The announcement followed laboratory confirmations from three national reference laboratories: the Central Public Health Laboratory in Kampala, the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, and Makerere University. This marks the eighth Ebola outbreak in Uganda’s history, raising alarms across the region.

Details of the Index Case

The identified index case is a 32-year-old male nurse employed at Mulago National Referral Hospital. The individual initially exhibited fever-like symptoms and sought treatment at multiple healthcare facilities, including:

• Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala,
• Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital, Matugga in Wakiso District, and
• Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, Mbale City.

Tragically, the patient also visited a traditional healer during the course of his illness. Following a five-day history of high fever, chest pain, and difficulty in breathing, his condition deteriorated into unexplained bleeding from multiple sites. Despite receiving treatment, the patient succumbed to the illness at Mulago National Referral Hospital on January 29, 2025. Post-mortem samples confirmed the presence of Sudan Ebola Virus.

Current Situation

The Ministry of Health has reassured the public that, as of now, no other healthcare worker or patient in the same ward has exhibited symptoms of Ebola.