February 25, 2025 02:17 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Punjab Police cancels licenses of 40 illegal travel agents amid row over US deportation | 'Bangladesh must make up its mind...': S Jaishankar cautions Dhaka over 'ridiculous' claims by leaders | 'Vultures got dead bodies, pigs got filth': Yogi Adityanath tears into opposition over Maha Kumbh criticisms | 'I have options if party doesn't need me': Shashi Tharoor's message for Congress amid row over praises for Modi, LDF | Kolkata: Elderly woman's gold chain snatched by bike-borne miscreants in Dhakuria | 'Slave mentality': PM Modi slams opposition for criticising govt over Maha Kumbh | Tunnel collapses in Telangana, 30 workers feared trapped | Delhi CM Rekha Gupta calls on PM Modi | 'Isn't this cheating..?': Shivraj Singh Chouhan blasts Air India for allotting broken seat; airline apologises | AAP's Punjab minister ran non-existent department for 20 months, BJP slams Arvind Kejriwal
Ebola
A street in central Kampala, Uganda. Photo Courtesy: UN News/ Conor Lennon

WHO confirms deadly outbreak of Sudan Ebola virus

| @indiablooms | Jan 31, 2025, at 09:54 am

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday confirmed an outbreak of Sudan virus disease in Uganda, which is part of the Ebola virus family.

Health authorities in Kampala confirmed that one patient has died – a nurse who had sought treatment at various other medical facilities after developing fever-like symptoms.

In response to the outbreak of the often deadly and infectious haemorrhagic fever which is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids and tissue, WHO is mobilising efforts to support national health authorities in swiftly containing and ending the outbreak.

Senior public health experts and staff from WHO's country office are being deployed to support key outbreak response measures.

Additionally, WHO has allocated $1 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to accelerate early action. Medical supplies, including personal protective equipment, are being readied for delivery from WHO's Emergency Response Hub in Nairobi.

Race to develop a vaccine

Although there are no licensed vaccines for Sudan virus disease, WHO is coordinating with developers to deploy candidate vaccines once all necessary approvals are obtained.

Regarding the deceased man, no other health workers or patients have shown symptoms, said WHO.

A total of 45 contacts, including health workers and family members are under close monitoring. The identification of the case in a densely populated urban area necessitates a rapid and intense response, the agency stressed.

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, welcomed the prompt outbreak declaration saying the agency was supporting the Government and partners “to scale up measures to quickly identify cases, isolate and provide care, curb the spread of the virus, and protect the population.

“Uganda’s robust expertise in responding to public health emergencies will be crucial in ending this outbreak effectively."

There have been eight previous outbreaks of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease, with five in Uganda and three in Sudan. Uganda last reported an outbreak in 2022.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Close menu