The Ugandan Ministry of Health has confirmed a new epidemic of the Ebola virus in the capital, Kampala, with a reported death.
The victim was a 32 -year -old nurse whose symptoms included “a strong fever, chest pain and difficulty breathing” and “bleeding from several bodily sites”.
He died on Wednesday from the failure of several organs at the Mulango National Hospital, located in the central district of affairs of the city.
This marks the eighth Ebola epidemic in Uganda since the first infection was documented in 2000.
Sudan Ebola virus disease (SUDV) is a highly infectious hemorrhagic fever which is transmitted by contact with infected fluids and tissues. It is one of the many strains of the Ebola virus known to cause epidemics.
In the days preceding his death, the nurse went to several health establishments as well as a traditional healer, before confirmation of the diagnosis.
He also went to a public hospital in Mbale, a city that borders Kenya.
The ministry said that 44 contacts of the deceased man, including 30 health workers, were identified for tracing.
Quick response teams have been deployed to try to contain the disease.
But the tracing of contacts can be difficult because Kampala, a lively city of more than four million people, serves as a major center for trips to South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and other neighboring countries.
The last Ebola epidemic in Uganda took place in September 2022, which was also caused by SudV. Centered in the Mubende district, it was declared after four months.
There are six known types of the Ebola virus. Four of them, Zaire, Bundibugyo, Sudan and Taï, are known to cause diseases in humans.
Reston and bombs strains mainly affect non -human primates.
Unlike the more common Zaire virus, there is no approved vaccine for the Sudanese strain.
Symptoms of Ebola infection include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rashes and internal and external bleeding.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that on average, Ebola kills five infected people out of 10.
However, past epidemics have shown a mortality rate ranging from 25% to 90%, depending on the circumstances and response measures.
