Kampala-Uganda has registered one case of Ebola in Mubende district.
This was confirmed on Tuesday morning by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health Dr. Diana Atwine while briefing press at the Ministry headquarters in Kampala.
Dr. Atwine says the victim is a 24 year old male from Ngabano village, Madudu Subcounty in Mubende district.
“He was admitted at Mubende Regional Referral Hospital on September 15, 2022 with symptoms of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) where he was identified and isolated. He was a referral from St. Johns Medical Clinic in East Division of Mubende Municipality where he had just been referred.” Said Dr. Atwine
She says the victim presented with high grade fever, convulsions, blood-stained vomitus and diarrhea, loss of appetite and pain on swallowing. He also presented with chest pain, dry cough, and bleeding in the eyes.
“While in the isolation unit at Mubende RRH, he developed yellowing of eyes, tea colored urine and complained of abdominal pain on the 17 th September 2022. The clinical team took a sample from the patient having suspected a VHF. The sample was received at the VHF laboratory at Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) on the 18th September 2022, and results released on Monday, 19th September 2022 confirmed Ebola (Sudan strain) infection.” Noted Dr. Atwine
She said the confirmed index case died on Monday morning, and the body is still currently kept in the Mubende RRH mortuary, separated from the other bodies awaiting safe and dignified burial.
“More information is still being gathered concerning the possible source of infection and contacts for this confirmed case.” Said Atwine
This is the second Ebola-Sudan strain in Uganda, The first case was reported in Luwero District in 2012. This was diagnosed and ended on the index case. There was no secondary transmission reported.
The incubation for Ebola Sudan period is 2-21 days. Like all other Ebola strains, this is a serious disease with significant morbidity and mortality.
Unexplained deaths
According to ministry of health, the District Rapid Response team on suspicion of VHT initiated the investigations in the community as there were unconfirmed deaths in different communities.
This was as a result of community reports of strange illness and sudden deaths in the villages of Madudu and Kiruma sub-counties.
The district team verified the deaths as follows; A total of six deaths had occurred in Kiruma and Madudu Sub-counties; Three adults and three children between 1st and 15th September 2022.
Dr. Atwine says the Ministry has instituted preliminary containment measures to control the outbreak in the district and the surrounding districts.
The Ministry has called upon the population across the country, and Mubende sub-region to remain calm but remain vigilant to report any suspected case to the nearest health facility for assessment.
About Ebola
Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans.
The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.
An average Ebola case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.
A suspected case of Ebola may present with Sudden onset fever, fatigue, chest pain, diarrhea, vomiting unexplained bleeding, yellowing of eyes and bleeding manifestation which is usually a late presentation after the above symptoms.
The ministry of health has urged the public to avoid physical contacts of anyone with the above symptoms, continue with washing hands and maintain good hand hygiene at all times and also avoid contact with body fluids that include urine, blood, sweat, saliva, vomits, and stool.
It further noted that handling of dead bodies suspected to have Ebola like symptoms should be supervised by the health team and undergo a safe and dignified burial to prevent further spread within the communities.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), vaccines to protect against Ebola have been developed and have been used to help control the spread of Ebola outbreaks in Guinea and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
