Thu Jan 30 18:27:54 UTC 2025: ## Ebola Outbreak Confirmed in Uganda’s Kampala; Nurse Dies
**Kampala, Uganda –** Uganda’s Ministry of Health confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in the capital city, Kampala, following the death of a 32-year-old nurse on Wednesday. The victim, who sought treatment at multiple facilities before succumbing to the illness at Mulago National Referral Hospital, was confirmed to have the Sudan Ebola virus strain. This marks Uganda’s first confirmed Ebola fatality since 2023.
The Ministry is actively tracing at least 44 contacts, including 30 healthcare workers, to prevent further spread of the highly contagious virus. An immediate vaccination drive for these contacts is underway. Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, Diana Atwine, assures the public that the situation is under control and urges citizens to report any suspected cases.
The outbreak comes amidst a recent Marburg virus outbreak in neighboring Tanzania and the recent conclusion of a Marburg outbreak in Rwanda. Contact tracing in the densely populated Kampala, a major transportation hub, presents a significant challenge.
Ebola, a haemorrhagic fever transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids, presents symptoms including headache, vomiting, muscle pain, and bleeding. Uganda has a history of battling Ebola outbreaks, with nine since 2000. The country successfully contained a previous outbreak in late 2022, though 55 of the 143 infected individuals died.
First Piper 