Uganda’s Ministry of Health has confirmed an Ebola outbreak in the capital, Kampala, following the death of a male nurse at Mulago National Referral Hospital.
The nurse, who exhibited fever-like symptoms, sought treatment at multiple facilities, including a traditional healer, before passing away on January 29. Post-mortem tests identified the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus.
Authorities have traced 44 individuals who had contact with the deceased, including 30 healthcare workers, and efforts to monitor them are underway. However, containment efforts may be challenging due to Kampala’s high population density and its role as a regional transit hub.
Ebola, a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever, spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids, causing severe symptoms such as internal bleeding, vomiting blood, and multi-organ failure.
This marks Uganda’s ninth Ebola outbreak since 2000. The most recent outbreak in 2022 infected 143 people and claimed 55 lives before being contained in early 2023.
Health officials have announced vaccination plans for identified contacts, but no approved vaccine currently exists for the Sudan strain. Experimental doses used in previous outbreaks may be deployed
Comments
Post a Comment