Uganda’s Ministry of Health has confirmed a new outbreak of the Ebola virus in the capital city, Kampala, following the death of a 32-year-old male nurse.

The victim, who initially presented with high fever, chest pain, and difficulty breathing, later developed severe bleeding from multiple body sites. He succumbed to multi-organ failure on Wednesday at Mulago National Hospital, located in the city’s central business district.

This marks Uganda’s eighth recorded Ebola outbreak since the virus was first identified in the country in 2000. The latest outbreak has been attributed to the Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SUDV), a highly infectious haemorrhagic fever transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissues. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, there is no approved vaccine for SUDV.

Before his death, the nurse had sought treatment at multiple health facilities, including a public hospital in Mbale, a city near the Kenyan border, as well as a traditional healer. The Ministry of Health has identified 44 contacts, including 30 healthcare workers, for monitoring and tracing.

Rapid response teams have been deployed to contain the outbreak. However, health officials warn that contact tracing may be challenging due to Kampala’s status as a major travel hub for South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and other neighboring countries.

Uganda’s last Ebola outbreak occurred in September 2022 in the Mubende district and lasted four months before being declared over.

Ebola symptoms typically begin with fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and internal and external bleeding. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the average fatality rate of Ebola at around 50%, though past outbreaks have seen mortality rates range from 25% to 90%, depending on response measures.

Authorities urge vigilance and adherence to safety protocols as efforts to contain the outbreak continue.