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Ebola is on the rise in Uganda. The outbreak has become threatening, and this period's a rare strain of the virus called the Sudan strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment yet.
By the documentation of the World Health Organization (WHO), there are five species of the Ebola virus, which are; Zaire ebolavirus (ZEBOV), Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV), Tai Forest ebolavirus (TAFV), Reston ebolavirus (RESTV) and Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV).
With a high surge of more recent cases, the outbreak in the African country is proving more difficult to handle.
Ebola is a deadly virus with initial symptoms which can include a sudden fever, intense weakness, muscle pain and a sore throat.
Subsequent stages of the virus can include vomiting, diarrhoea and - in some cases - both internal and external bleeding, known as haemorrhaging.
The Ebola Sudan strain
Ebola spreads between humans through direct contact with bodily fluids and contaminated environments.
On September 20, 2022, the health authorities in Uganda declared an outbreak of Ebola after a case of the Sudan Ebola virus was confirmed in the Mubende district.
The Uganda Virus Research Institute confirmed the case after testing a sample taken from a 24-year-old male.
Ever since, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been helping the Ugandan health authorities with the investigation and is deploying staff to the areas of the country.
The Organization has also dispatched supplies to support the care of patients and sent tents to isolated patients.
WHO reported that as of October 26, 1844, contacts were under surveillance in nine districts of the country. A cumulative total of 3166 contacts have also been listed since the start of the most recent outbreak.
And as of November 5, a total of 132 confirmed cases had been identified with 39% death of the cases.
Cases have been found in seven districts including Mubende, Kassanda District, Kyegegwa District, Bunyangabu District, Kagadi District, Wakiso District, and the capital of Kampala.
A 51-bed treatment facility is operational in Mubende district, the epicentre of the outbreak. A second facility is due to be set up soon.
The President of the country Yoweri Museveni made known the announcement of two mobile laboratories in Mubende, this is for the benefit of the people, as they would not have to travel for tests and risk spreading the virus.
Ebola in Uganda
With the World Health Organization (WHO) support of the Ugandan Ministry of Health, similarly, Médecins Sans Frontiéres has also been supporting the Ugandan Ministry with deploying initial emergency response.
Likewise, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) appealed for emergency aid to Uganda.
The European Union has responded to the request with €200,000 in initial emergency funding.
Over the last 15 years, Uganda has had several Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) outbreaks. The first and biggest Ebola outbreak in Uganda occurred in 2000 with cases being reported in the three districts of Gulu, Masindi, and Mbarara.
In subsequent years, outbreaks were reported in Bundibugyo, Luwero, Kibaale, and Luwero districts in 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2012 respectively.
On March 23, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported cases of the Ebola Virus. This marked the beginning of the Africa Ebola epidemic, the largest in history.
The 2014–2016 outbreak in Africa was the largest Ebola outbreak since the virus was first discovered in 1976.
The outbreak started in Guinea and then moved across land borders to Sierra Leone and Liberia, before travelling to different countries.
On August 8, 2014, WHO declared the situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), which is designated only for events with a risk of potential international spread or that require a coordinated international response.
Over the duration of the epidemic, the Ebola spread to seven more countries; Nigeria, Mali, Senegal, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
On March 29, 2016, the WHO lifted the PHEIC status on West Africa’s Ebola situation. Two and a half years after, it had brought a total of more than 28,600 cases and 11,325 deaths.
Ebola is transmitted to humans from infected animals, such as chimpanzees, fruit bats and forest antelope. Bushmeat - wild forest animals hunted for human consumption - is thought to be the natural reservoir of the virus.
It then spreads between humans by direct contact with contaminated bodily fluids including blood, saliva, vomit, semen, vaginal discharge, urine, faeces and sweat.
To prevent the Ebola infection, health professionals advise avoiding contact with cases, including shaking hands, washing hands with soap and water and cleaning surfaces with chlorinated water.
It is also important to isolate cases and their contacts.
Countries usually set up holding centres for suspected cases and treatment centres for laboratory-confirmed cases.
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