Situation Report: Ebola Outbreak in Uganda Spreads to Three Districts

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Cases Rise in Ebola Outbreak

On September 25, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 18 confirmed and 18 probable cases of the Sudan ebolavirus in the Mubende, Kyegegwa, and Kassanda districts of Uganda. There have been 23 deaths, five of which were attributed to confirmed cases. This marks a case fatality rate of 28 percent in the current outbreak.

Public health authorities continue to investigate the scope of the outbreak, taking into account several factors including population mobility in the area, suboptimal infection prevention practices in facilities where patients were seen, a lag in case identification, undetected transmission, and burial practices involving large gatherings. 

Public Heath Response

The WHO and the Uganda Ministry of Health’s National Task Force are responding to the outbreak. They have established isolation and treatment units and are performing contact tracing and surveillance. Screening and triage are being done in affected districts. 

The risk of serious public health impact is high because, at this time, there are no licensed vaccines or therapeutics for treatment and prevention of the Sudan ebolavirus disease. 

Global Risk Level Low

Outside of Uganda, overall risk has been assessed as low. But the possibility of international spread exists due to cross-border population movement given the outbreak is located in a heavily trafficked region.

Health care workers in the United States should be alert for patients with symptoms, exposures, and recent travel history consistent with Ebola (CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/clinicians/evaluating-patients/index.html, Accessed 9/28/2022). Staff should be ready to implement the identify, isolate, and inform algorithm to reduce viral transmission in health care settings.

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