Uganda Ebola Virus Disease outbreak rises to 9 cases
Since my last report on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) (Sudan ebolavirus) outbreak in Uganda, the Uganda Ministry of Health has recorded five additional new confirmed cases and no deaths.
This brings the outbreak total to nine cases and one death (CFR 11.11%). The eight cases admitted to hospitals in Kampala and Mbale are considered in stable condition.
265 contacts of the confirmed cases have been placed under quarantine, the ministry said.
This is the eighth Ebola outbreak in Uganda since 2000.
There is currently vaccine to protect against Sudan virus infection, existing vaccines are for the Zaire strain of Ebola, which is not expected to protect against Sudan virus.
Uganda has launched a trial vaccination program against the Sudan strain of Ebola.
Ebola disease is caused by a group of viruses, known as orthoebolaviruses (formally ebolavirus). Ebola disease most commonly affects humans and nonhuman primates, such as monkeys, chimpanzees, and gorillas. There are four orthoebolaviruses that cause illness in people, presenting as clinically similar disease:
Ebola virus (species Orthoebolavirus zairense) causes Ebola virus disease.
Sudan virus (species Orthoebolavirus sudanense) causes Sudan virus disease.
Taï Forest virus (species Orthoebolavirus taiense) causes Taï Forest virus disease.
Bundibugyo virus (species Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense) causes Bundibugyo virus disease.
A person infected with Ebola disease is not contagious until symptoms appear, including fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms, and unexplained bleeding. Ebola disease is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the body fluids (blood, urine, feces, saliva, droplet, semen, or other secretions) of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola disease. Ebola disease is also spread by infected animals, or through direct contact with objects like needles that are contaminated with the virus. Ebola disease is not spread through airborne transmission.
In the absence of early diagnosis and appropriate supportive care, Ebola disease has a high mortality rate. With intense supportive care and fluid replacement, mortality rates may be lowered. Previous outbreaks of SVD have had a mortality rate of approximately 50%.