Uganda Ebola outbreak: first death recorded in capital Kampala

The East African country has confirmed 54 cases of the deadly disease

Medical laboratory assistant Mellon Kyomugisha, who said she was the first to examine the first confirmed Ebola victim when he came to St Florence Clinic with malaria, takes a blood sample from a toddler at the clinic in Madudu, Uganda, on Wednesday, September 28. In this remote Ugandan community facing its first Ebola outbreak, testing trouble has added to the challenges with symptoms of the Sudan strain of Ebola being similar to malaria, underscoring the pitfalls health workers face in their response. AP

An attendant disinfects the boots of a medical officer before leaving the Ebola isolation section of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital, in Mubende, Uganda. September 29, 2022. AP

A pupil revises in a classroom at Madudu Catholic Church school, where many are staying away owing to the risk of Ebola. AP

A medical officer from the Uganda Red Cross Society instructs people with suspected Ebola symptoms to enter an ambulance, in Madudu, near Mubende. AP

Doctors pray before entering the Ebola isolation section of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital. AP

A woman passes a sign with telephone numbers for Ebola help hotlines at the St Florence Clinic in Madudu, near Mubende. AP

Relatives of a woman who died from Ebola prepare her grave in Kijavuzo village, Mubende district. AP

Doctors at the Ebola isolation section of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital. AP

A medical attendant near a sign explaining to patients about the symptoms of Ebola at the entrance to Mubende Regional Referral Hospital. AP

Boots hung up to dry after being disinfected outside the Ebola isolation section of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital. AP

A medical attendant disinfects a man's gloves before leaving the Ebola isolation section of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital. AP

Nurse Edgar Muhindo, left, at St Florence Clinic in Madudu, which unknowingly treated two Ebola patients for malaria before they sought care elsewhere. AP

Books abandoned in a classroom at Madudu Catholic Church school. AP

Farmer Margaret Nakanyike, one of those herded into the isolation unit after two members of her household showed signs of Ebola, says she was lucky to escape infection. AP

Doctors at the Ebola isolation section of Mubende Regional Referral Hospital. AP

A teacher takes a primary school class at Madudu Catholic Church school, where many pupils stayed away owing to the risk of Ebola. AP

A man studies an Ebola awareness campaign poster after an outbreak of the disease. Kampala, Uganda, September 28, 2022. EPA

An Ebola patient in Uganda has become the first to die in the capital, Kampala, the health ministry confirmed to the BBC on Wednesday.

The man who died was the 19th victim of an outbreak, which has comprised 54 confirmed cases in the East African country, the report said.

So far, 20 people — including five medics at the hospital where the first case was treated — have recovered and were discharged on Tuesday.

The man who died in Kampala was not from the city but was known to have potentially come into contact with the virus.

He ran away from his village and disguised his identity before visiting a healer in a different region, Health Minister Dr Jane Aceng said. He was already seriously ill when he arrived at the hospital.

He died at Kiruddu National Referral Hospital last Friday, although his death was confirmed on Wednesday, the BBC said.

The outbreak was confirmed by health authorities in September after the country confirmed its first case in a decade.

A 24-year-old man in the African country's central Mubende district showed symptoms and later died. He was confirmed to have tested positive for the Sudan strain of the virus following an investigation by the National Rapid Response team into six suspicious deaths in the district in September.

“This is the first time in more than a decade that Uganda is recording an outbreak of [the] Sudan Ebola virus,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organisation's regional director for Africa, at the time.

Dr Aceng said there were currently no other confirmed Ebola cases in Kampala, although the city and surrounding districts are considered high risk.