A deadly Ebola Sudan outbreak in Uganda has expanded to seven confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The index case-patient, a 32-year-old male nurse, died from the disease 10 days after developing symptoms. His wife and 298 of his contacts have been identified as potential cases.
The WHO reported two main clusters: a family cluster involving the couple and three separate healthcare facility cases linked to the patient’s visits to a traditional healer and clinics. Only one case has resulted in death, with a case-fatality rate (CFR) of 14.3%.
In response, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) advisory, warning travelers from Uganda or passing through affected areas to take precautions. The CDC noted that even though there are no direct flights from Uganda to the US, infected individuals can still enter on flights connecting through other countries.
The current outbreak has a significantly lower CFR compared to previous Ebola Sudan outbreaks, which typically range around 50%. Ugandans have not experienced an outbreak since 2022, with 164 cases and 55 deaths reported.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/ebola/ebola-sudan-outbreak-uganda-grows-7-cases