Kampala:
An Ebola outbreak has been confirmed in Uganda, sparking panic in the capital, Kampala. The Ministry of Health confirmed on Thursday that a patient has died after contracting the virus.
This marks Uganda’s ninth Ebola outbreak since the first infection was recorded in 2000.
The victim, a male nurse, sought treatment at various health centers with symptoms of fever, but could not recover as his condition worsened. According to the Ministry of Health, “The patient experienced multiple organ failures and passed away on January 29 at Mulago National Hospital. Post-mortem samples confirmed the presence of the Sudanese strain of the Ebola virus.”
“Efforts are underway to trace 44 close contacts of the patient, including 30 healthcare workers.”
Ebola is a contagious hemorrhagic fever that spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissues. Symptoms include headaches, vomiting blood, muscle pain, and bleeding.
Contact tracing is challenging as Kampala is a large, densely populated city with over 4 million residents and serves as a hub for traffic coming from South Sudan, Congo, Rwanda, and other neighboring countries.
It is also noteworthy that Uganda’s last Ebola crisis occurred in December 2022, which affected 143 people, leading to 55 deaths.
