Agency
Officials in Uganda’s Ministry of Health (MOH) have dismissed claims of a confirmed Nipah virus case in the country, following reports of an outbreak in India.
The Ministry’s statement comes after several viral TikTok videos claimed that Uganda had recorded deaths from the virus, which can be transmitted through contaminated food or direct contact with infected persons.
One video even alleged a looming lockdown in Jinja and Kasese districts.
Speaking to Mega FM, Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, Director of Public Health at MOH, said the information is being spread by lay people aiming to create unnecessary panic, emphasizing that Uganda has not recorded any case.
Fear surrounding the outbreak is not limited to Uganda.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Nipah virus has never been recorded in Africa since its first report in 1998.
Countries previously affected include Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, with case fatality rates estimated between 40% and 75%.
WHO notes that infected individuals may develop fever, neurological symptoms such as headaches or confusion, and respiratory symptoms, including cough or difficulty breathing.
Before the current outbreak in India, the last reported Nipah virus outbreak occurred in the Philippines in 2014.
