The Outbreak and Control of Ebola Viral Haemorrhagic Fever in a Ugandan Medical School

• Published in: Tropical doctor 2002-01, Vol.32 (1), p.10-15
• Main Authors: Bitekyerezo, Medard, Kyobutungi, Catherine, Kizza, Ruth, Mugeni, James, Munyarugero, Emmanuel, Tirwomwe, Francis, Twongyeirwe, Eunice, Muhindo, George, Nakibuuka, Victoria, John, Laurence, Ruiz, Ana, Frame, Karen, Priotto, Gerardo, Pepper, Larry, Kabakyenga, Jerome, Baingana, Sheila, Ledo, Dennis, Nakate, Maimuna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - epidemiology; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - etiology; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - prevention & control; Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499; Hospital Units; Hospitals, Teaching; Humans; Male; Patient Isolation; Schools, Medical; Uganda - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0049-4755; 1758-1133
• DOI: 10.1177/004947550203200107

Uganda has just experienced the largest outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF) ever recorded. Mbarara University Teaching Hospital (MUTH) is responsible for training approximately one-third of Uganda's doctors. Mbarara is located in South West Uganda, 614 km from Gulu, the main epicentre of the outbreak. On 23 October a patient was admitted to the medical ward of MUTH with an acute fever. He soon exhibited haemorrhagic symptoms and died. He was later confirmed to have suffered Ebola. Three more patients subsequently contracted the disease. All died. There were no further cases in Mbarara. No members of staff or medical student was infected. We give details of the clinical features of those patients who contracted the disease, the setting up of an Ebola isolation unit, the case surveillance and the search for the source of the outbreak. The implications for similar institutions in East Africa are discussed.