The most recent ebola outbreak occured in Uganda two days ago. On Tuesday 20th September the UN World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the rare Sudan strain had been found in Uganda.
No Vaccine For The Rare Sudan Strain
The Ebola virus has over the years mutated to three different strains. The Bundibugyo, Sudan and Zaire strains. Of the three the ebola vaccine is known to be effective against the Zaire strain.
Neighboring Countries Taking Precautions
Kenya is now on high alert after the Ebola outbreak in Uganda. The government has set up a rapid response team to check people coming in from Uganda at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and also truck drivers at the Kenya -Uganda border.
The Democratic Republic Of Congo
The Democratic Republic Of Congo is also on high alert. The DRC has had 4 confirmed cases of Ebola all of whom had died since August 2022, a month before the outbreak was announced in Uganda and a month after declaring that it’s 14th Ebola outbreak was over.
It’s largest outbreak occurred is August 2018, with conflict in the area severely hampering the response, and the virus was able to spread widely. By the time the outbreak in DRC was over in June 2020, over 3,000 people had been infected, and 2,299 died, making it the second largest outbreak of Ebola to date.
The current outbreak in Uganda is the second time the Sudan strain has been identified in the country. The last time the Sudan strain was identified in Uganda was in 2012.
Uganda has had several Ebola outbreaks over the years with the first and biggest reported Ebola outbreak in Uganda occurring in 2000 where cases reported in the three districts of Gulu, Masindi, and Mbarara. In the subsequent years, outbreaks were reported in Bundibugyo, Luwero, Kibaale, and Luwero districts in 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2012 respectively.
