As of 20 February 2025, a total of nine confirmed cases of Sudan virus disease, including one death have been reported from Uganda, since the outbreak was declared on 30 January 2025. Eight cases received care at treatment centres in the capital Kampala and in Mbale and were discharged on 18 February after two negative tests 72 hours apart. As of 20 February 2025, 58 contacts that have been identified are still under follow up in designated quarantine facilities located in Jinja, Kampala,and Mbale. Sudan virus disease belongs to the same family as Ebola virus disease. It is caused by Sudan virus (SUDV). It is a severe disease with high case fatality ranging from 41% to 70% in past outbreaks. In the absence of licensed vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of SVD, the risk of potential serious public health impact is high. Early detection, diagnosis, and optimized supportive care may increase the chance of survival.
Since the first disease outbreak news on this event was published on 1 February 2025, additional eight laboratory-confirmed cases of Sudan virus disease (SVD) have been reported in Uganda. As of 20 February 2025, a total of nine confirmed cases, including one death have been reported with a case fatality ratio (CFR) of 11%. Cases ages range from 1.5 to 49 years, with a mean age of 27 years and males accounted for 56% of the total cases. The cases were reported from four districts in the country which include Jinja, Kampala, Mbale, and Wakiso (Figure 1).
The first reported case, who was a health worker, had symptom onset on 19 January in epidemiological week 3 (Figure 2). The case initially self-medicated with antimalarials and sought care in different health facilities located in Wakiso, Kampala and Mbale districts, as well as a traditional healer in Mbale, before being referred to Mulago referral hospital, where he died on 29 January 2025. Following the detection and confirmation of SVD on 29 January, the case was accorded a safe and dignified burial on 31 January in Mbale.
Following the prompt declaration of the outbreak by the Ministry of Health on 30 January, a detailed case investigation was conducted on the first case including comprehensive contact listing in all the districts where the case travelled. Contacts were quarantined in a designated facility and monitored for 21 days. The other eight reported confirmed cases were among the listed contacts and include family members (five cases) and health workers (three) who had direct contact with the first case as they provided care during his illness. The secondary cases had symptom onset between 29 January to 6 February. All were detected at early onset of their disease by contact tracing team while in quarantine. They were referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital (seven cases) and Mbale Regional Referral Hospital (one case) for optimized supportive care and received Remdesivir under the Monitored emergency use of unregistered and experimental interventions (MEURI) protocol. All eight cases were discharged on 18 February 2025 after two negative tests carried out 72 hours apart.
Source: World Health Organisation.
