In Kampala, Uganda, a 32-year-old nurse from Mulago Hospital has died, marking the first Ebola fatality since the country's last outbreak concluded in early 2023. Health officials confirmed on Thursday that the nurse succumbed to the Sudan strain of Ebola after multiple lab tests, following symptoms including a fever. His death occurred on Wednesday. Diana Atwine, the permanent secretary of Uganda's health ministry, reported the incident and mentioned that 44 contacts, including 30 health workers and patients, have been identified for monitoring.
The Ugandan health authorities assert they are "in full control of the situation" and have urged citizens to report any suspected Ebola cases. Tracing contacts is essential for controlling the spread of this virus, as there are currently no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain. The country's previous outbreak, beginning in September 2022 and ending in January 2023, led to the deaths of at least 55 individuals.
The recent confirmation of Ebola aligns with a broader trend of viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in East Africa. Tanzania, earlier this month, declared an outbreak of the Ebola-like Marburg disease, and Rwanda recently ended its own Marburg outbreak in December. In Tanzania's Kagera region, the Marburg outbreak has resulted in at least two fatalities, as per local health authorities.
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The current situation in Kampala, a city with a mobile population of approximately 4 million, poses a challenge due to the nurse's movement while seeking treatment. He was treated at a hospital near Kampala, admitted to a public hospital in Mbale, and sought the services of a traditional healer. Dr. Emmanuel Batiibwe, who played a key role in managing Uganda's 2022 Ebola outbreak, emphasized the importance of a coordinated response, saying: "Our reaction should be swift, decisive and well-coordinated," utilizing lessons learned from past experiences. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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