Ebola Outbreak Confirmed in Kampala

The Ministry of Health in Uganda has confirmed an outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease in Kampala, marking the eighth Ebola outbreak in the country. 

The confirmation comes after laboratory tests from three national reference laboratories identified the virus in a 32-year-old male nurse who died on January 29, 2025.

According to Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the nurse initially developed fever-like symptoms and sought treatment at multiple health facilities, including Mulago National Referral Hospital, Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga, and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.

“The Ministry of Health has activated its Incident Management Team and dispatched Rapid Response Teams to Mbale City and Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital to list and isolate contacts,” Dr. Atwine stated.

A total of 45 contacts have been listed, including 30 health workers and patients from Mulago, 11 family members of the deceased, and four health workers from Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital.

The Ministry of Health urges all health workers to maintain a high index of suspicion and adhere to strict infection prevention and control measures. The public is advised to avoid physical contact with individuals exhibiting Ebola symptoms, maintain strict hand hygiene, and avoid direct contact with bodily fluids from suspected Ebola patients.

The Government of Uganda reassures the public that the Ministry of Health is in control of the situation and working to safeguard the lives of all people in Uganda. For any suspected cases, the public can contact the Ministry of Health’s toll-free hotline at 0800-100-066 or send a free SMS to 6767 for immediate response.