By Agency
A male health worker has tested positive for the Sudan Ebola virus, the Ministry of Health has announced.
According to Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, the confirmed case is of a 32-year-old male nurse who was working at the Mulago National Referral Hospital.
The health worker, who passed away last evening, was also working at Sayidina Abubakar Hospital in Matugga.
Dr. Atwine stated that 44 contacts have been identified, including his family members, health workers, and a traditional healer in Mbale.
The Ministry of Health reveals that the contacts will be vaccinated, and the case will be accorded a dignified burial.
Uganda has had seven Ebola disease outbreaks, between 2000 and 2022.
On Sept 20, 2022, the Ministry of Health declared a Sudan virus disease outbreak in Mubende District, Central Uganda.
On 20 September 2022, Uganda declared an Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Sudan ebolavirus species, after the confirmation of a case in Mubende district.
In total during this outbreak, there were 164 cases (142 confirmed and 22 probable), 55 confirmed deaths and 87 recovered patients. Uganda has previously had four outbreaks of Sudan ebolavirus; one outbreak in 2000 and 2011 and two outbreaks in 2012, as well as an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease in 2007 and an Ebola virus disease outbreak in 2019.
