#17,068
This outbreak - the first appearance of Ebola Sudan in a decade - prompted the US To Begin Targeted Airport Screening Of Travelers From Uganda 10 days ago. Unlike the Zaire Ebola strain, there is currently no approved vaccine for Ebola Sudan.
As of Saturday, Uganda had `officially' reported 58 confirmed cases & 19 deaths, although we've seen reports suggesting the real number could be higher..
A summary of the directives posted by the Uganda Media Centre follow:
While any Ebola outbreak is concerning, so far this remains primarily a regional threat, as explained by the following update from the ECDC.
While any Ebola outbreak is concerning, so far this remains primarily a regional threat, as explained by the following update from the ECDC.
News12 Oct 2022
ECDC is actively monitoring the Ebola outbreak in Uganda through its epidemic intelligence activities and regular communication with Africa CDC, WHO (Ebola Disease caused by Sudan virus – Uganda) and GOARN partners. Weekly updates are available in the ECDC weekly communicable disease threats report.
The outbreak is still relatively limited in size (48 cases). More importantly, transmission has not been documented in densely populated areas. The spread of the ongoing outbreak to other areas within Uganda and/or in neighbouring countries cannot be excluded.
While one death has occurred in the capital city of Kampala, it concerns an individual who fled from the affected districts and passed away in the capital. The patient arrived in the city in a serious condition, which alerted the healthcare workers; therefore, protective measures were applied. A total of 42 contacts have been identified. No other cases have been recorded in the city.
As of 10 October 2022, and according to the Uganda Ministry of Health, 48 confirmed cases have been reported, including 17 deaths, of which four were healthcare workers. There have been 14 recoveries from EVD, including five healthcare workers. There are an additional 20 probable deaths among individuals who died before a sample was taken. All cases reported outside Mubende have an epidemiological link to the cases initially reported in Mubende.
Risk to EU/EEA citizens living in or travelling to affected areas in Uganda
The current probability that EU/EEA citizens living in or travelling to Ebola virus disease (EVD)-affected areas of Uganda will be exposed to the virus is very low, if they adhere to the recommended precautionary measures.
Transmission requires direct contact with blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of dead or living infected persons or animals; these are all unlikely exposures for the general EU/EEA tourists or expatriates in Uganda.
That said, the CDC has issued an Alert LEVEL 2 Travel Advisory for Uganda:
Warning - Level 3, Avoid Nonessential TravelAlert - Level 2, Practice Enhanced PrecautionsWatch - Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions
Key points
- The Ministry of Health of Uganda has declared an Ebola outbreak in several districts in Uganda (see map). Avoid non-essential travel to these regions.
- This outbreak has been linked to the Sudan ebolavirus. No vaccines or therapeutics have been approved for prevention or treatment of the Sudan ebolavirus.
- Travelers should avoid contact with sick people and avoid contact with blood or body fluids from all people.
- Travelers should avoid contact with dead bodies, including participating in funeral or burial rituals.
- Travelers should isolate immediately and seek medical care if they develop signs and symptoms like fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising during or for up to 21 days after travel. Travelers who develop symptoms after arriving in the United States should follow additional recommendations.
- Organizations sending US-based healthcare or emergency response workers to the outbreak area should follow CDC recommendations to ensure their workers are healthy when they return to the United States.
- CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) are working with local health authorities to identify sources of transmission, conduct case investigations, and strengthen local laboratory capacity.
While primarily a local threat, the possibility of seeing exported cases to other countries is real, and cannot be ignored. Hence the actions we are seeing here and in the EU.
