Ebola outbreak in Uganda rises to 36 cases and 23 deaths plus spread beyond Mubende

On Monday, Sept. 26, the Ugandan Ministry of Health tweeted that there were now 36 cumulative cases (18 confirmed and 18 probable) and 23 cumulative deaths (five confirmed and 18 probable) due to Sudan ebolavirus. Unlike the Zaire ebolavirus strain (species), there is no vaccine against the Sudan ebolavirus reported in Uganda.

The Ugandan Ministry of Health has been doing an excellent service, including over the weekend (Sept. 23-26), with daily brief updates via Twitter. For example:

On Sept. 24, the ministry reported that four cases were found outside of the initial outbreak district of Mubende. Three of these cases are in Kyegegwa, and one is in Kassanda. Notably, the ministry stated: “No confirmed cases in Kampala as yet.”

On Sept. 23, they reported the number of cumulative cases was 11, “active cases on admission” were 25 and “contacts listed: 58.” In addition, an official press release was issued.

It should be anticipated that there will be more cases and deaths reported in the coming days, including beyond the initial outbreak area in Mubende District. If cases are found in the capital city of Kampala, not far from the international airport in Entebbe, then there is risk of international spread beyond the six regional nations that the World Health Organization specified in an initial focus on in its press conference last week.

A Sept. 26 WHO update included a map (see above) showing the three districts in Uganda reporting Ebola cases as of Sept. 25. One of the districts is on the road to the capital Kampala. As a former passenger on a public bus along this road, I suspect that more cases will likely be found near and eventually in Kampala.

Extensive experience from past Ebola outbreaks in Uganda, as well as the large outbreaks in West Africa (2013-2016) and in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (2018-2020), will surely be applied to this outbreak in Uganda.

WHO map image from “Ebola Disease caused by Sudan virus – Uganda 26 September 2022,” https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON410