Uganda has confirmed nine cases of the Ebola virus, with 265 individuals currently under quarantine, according to health officials.
The nine cases include the first victim, a male nurse who passed away the day before the outbreak was officially declared on January 30. He remains the only fatality in the outbreak to date.
The remaining eight patients are stable and receiving medical care, the Ministry of Health stated. Seven of the patients are being treated at the main public hospital in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, while one is being cared for in the eastern district of Mbale. The ministry has reassured the public that “the situation is under control” despite ongoing surveillance.
The deceased nurse had initially sought treatment in Kampala before traveling to Mbale, where he was later admitted to a hospital. Authorities also revealed that the nurse had consulted a traditional healer, and some of his relatives are among those currently receiving treatment for Ebola.
Kampala, home to a population of about 4 million people, remains a focal point for the outbreak, with officials continuing to investigate the source of the virus.
Ebola, a viral hemorrhagic fever, is primarily spread through direct contact with bodily fluids from an infected person or contaminated materials. Tracing contacts remains a critical measure in preventing further transmission.
Currently, there are no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain of Ebola, which is responsible for the outbreak in Uganda. However, health authorities have initiated a clinical study to test a trial vaccine’s safety and effectiveness in an effort to contain the spread.
The latest outbreak comes after Uganda’s last Ebola incident in September 2022, which claimed the lives of at least 55 individuals before it was declared over four months later.
Symptoms of Ebola include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.
Read more:
- Impact Of HIV Drug Interruptions: Millions At Risk
- Federal Funding Freeze Disrupts Rural Nonprofits In West Virginia
- RFK Jr.’s Claims On Autism Rates Questioned By Experts
