The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed an outbreak of Sudan virus disease in Uganda.
The Sudan Virus disease is part of the Ebola virus family.
In a statement in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday the WHO said health authorities in Kampala confirmed that one patient had died – a nurse who had sought treatment at various other medical facilities after developing fever-like symptoms.
The United Nations health agency is mobilising efforts to support national health authorities in swiftly containing and ending the outbreak of the often deadly and infectious haemorrhagic fever transmitted through contact with bodily fluids and tissue.
Senior public health experts and staff from WHO’s country office in Uganda have been deployed to support key outbreak response measures.
Additionally, it 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.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, welcomed the prompt outbreak declaration.
He said 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,” he said