2022 Uganda Ebola outbreak

2022 Uganda Ebola outbreak

Ebola_virus_virion.jpg Electron micrograph of an Ebola virus virion
Disease	[[Ebola virus disease|Ebola virus disease]]
Virus strain	[[Sudan ebolavirus|Sudan ebolavirus]]
First case	September 2022
Origin	[[|{{{origin}}}]]
Confirmed cases	142
Deaths	55
This disease outbreak related article is a stub.

The 2022 Uganda Ebola outbreak was a significant public health event involving the Ebola virus disease (EVD) caused by the Sudan ebolavirus strain. The outbreak was first reported in September 2022 in the Mubende District of Uganda. This outbreak was notable for being the first in Uganda since 2012 to involve the Sudan ebolavirus, which differs from the more common Zaire ebolavirus strain responsible for previous outbreaks in West Africa.

Background

Ebola virus disease is a severe, often fatal illness in humans caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus species. The Sudan ebolavirus is one of the six known species of the genus Ebolavirus, and it has been associated with several outbreaks in Africa since its discovery in 1976.

Outbreak Details

The outbreak was first identified in the Mubende District, a region located in central Uganda. The index case was reported in early September 2022, and the outbreak quickly spread to neighboring districts. The Ugandan Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international partners, launched a rapid response to contain the spread of the virus.

Transmission

Ebola is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g., bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Ebola virus disease can appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to the virus. Initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

Response and Control Measures

The Ugandan government, with support from international health organizations, implemented several control measures to curb the outbreak. These included:

• **Surveillance and Contact Tracing**: Identifying and monitoring individuals who had contact with confirmed cases.
• **Isolation and Treatment**: Establishing treatment centers to provide care for infected individuals.
• **Community Engagement**: Educating the public about the disease and how to prevent its spread.
• **Vaccination**: Although there is no licensed vaccine for the Sudan ebolavirus, investigational vaccines were deployed in a ring vaccination strategy.

Impact

The outbreak resulted in 142 confirmed cases and 55 deaths, with a case fatality rate of approximately 39%. The outbreak was declared over in January 2023 after no new cases were reported for 42 consecutive days.

Also see

• Ebola virus disease
• 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak
• Zaire ebolavirus
• World Health Organization