Continental concerted efforts to control the seventh outbreak of Ebola Virus disease in Uganda: The first 90 days of the response

Jane Ruth Aceng; Henry Kyobe Bosa; Neema Kamara; Diana Atwine; Henry Mwebesa; Howard Nyika; Katusiime Maureen; Charles Olaro; Atek Kagirita; Mohammed Larmode; Lul Pout Riek; Elvis Temfack; Stephanie Salyer; Dativa Aliddeki; Shingai Machingaidze; Festo Mazuguni; Bruce Kirenga; Winters Muttamba; Misaki Wayengera; Mudashir Bbuye; Arthur Kasambula; Daniel Eurien; Akello Grace; Ingrid Ampaire; Isabirye Herbert; Mathew Tut; Donewell Bangure; Wessam Mankoula; Ibrahima Sonko; Alinon Nouwame Kokou; Simon Magodi; Addis Mhiraf; Daniel Bulwadda; Daniel Kyabayinze; Zainah Kabami; Allan Muruta; Rony Bahatungire; Upentho George; Susan Nabadda; Gloria Birungi; Kabanda Richard; Merawi Aragaw; Ahmed Ogwell Ouma

doi:10.4081/jphia.2023.2735

Authors

Jane Ruth Aceng Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Henry Kyobe Bosa
hskyobe@gmail.com
Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Neema Kamara Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Diana Atwine Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Henry Mwebesa Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Howard Nyika Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Katusiime Maureen Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Charles Olaro Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Atek Kagirita Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Mohammed Larmode Makerere University Institute of Infectious Diseases, Kampala, Uganda.
Lul Pout Riek Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya.
Elvis Temfack Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Stephanie Salyer Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dativa Aliddeki Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya.
Shingai Machingaidze Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Festo Mazuguni Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Bruce Kirenga Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Winters Muttamba Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Misaki Wayengera Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Mudashir Bbuye Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Arthur Kasambula Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Daniel Eurien Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Akello Grace Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Ingrid Ampaire Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Isabirye Herbert Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Mathew Tut Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Donewell Bangure Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Wessam Mankoula Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ibrahima Sonko Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Alinon Nouwame Kokou Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Simon Magodi Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Addis Mhiraf Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya.
Daniel Bulwadda Makerere University Institute of Infectious Diseases, Kampala, Uganda.
Daniel Kyabayinze Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Zainah Kabami Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Allan Muruta Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Rony Bahatungire Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Upentho George Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Susan Nabadda Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Gloria Birungi Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Kabanda Richard Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
Merawi Aragaw Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ahmed Ogwell Ouma Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

On 20th September 2022, Uganda declared the 7th outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) caused by the Sudan Ebola strain following the confirmation of a case admitted at Mubende Regional Referral Hospital. Upon confirmation, the Government of Uganda immediately activated the national incident management system to initiate response activities. Additionally, a multi‑country emergency stakeholder meeting was held in Kampala; convening Ministers of Health from neighbouring Member States to undertake cross‑border preparedness and response actions. The outbreak spanned 69 days and recorded 164 cases (142 confirmed, 22 probable), 87 recoveries and 77 deaths (case fatality ratio of 47%). Nine out of 136 districts were affected with transmission taking place in 5 districts but spilling over in 4 districts without secondary transmission. As part of the response, the Government galvanised robust community mobilisation and initiated assessment of medical counter measures including therapeutics, new diagnostics and vaccines. This paper highlights the response actions that contributed to the containment of this outbreak in addition to the challenges faced with a special focus on key recommendations for better control of future outbreaks.

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Supporting Agencies

Uganda Ministry of Health, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Makerere University Institute of Infectious Diseases

Aceng, J. R., Bosa, H. K., Kamara, N., Atwine, D., Mwebesa, H., Nyika, H., Maureen, K., Olaro, C., Kagirita, A., Larmode, M., Riek, L. P., Temfack, E., Salyer, S., Aliddeki, D., Machingaidze, S., Mazuguni, F., Kirenga, B., Muttamba, W., Wayengera, M., Bbuye, M., Kasambula, A., Eurien, D., Grace, A., Ampaire, I., Herbert, I., Tut, M., Bangure, D., Mankoula, W., Sonko, I., Kokou, A. N., Magodi, S., Mhiraf, A., Bulwadda, D., Kyabayinze, D., Kabami, Z., Muruta, A., Bahatungire, R., George, U., Nabadda, S., Birungi, G., Richard, K., Aragaw, M., & Ouma, A. O. (2023). Continental concerted efforts to control the seventh outbreak of Ebola Virus disease in Uganda: The first 90 days of the response. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 14(9). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2023.2735