Uganda News

The Ministry of Health in Uganda confirmed an outbreak of the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and Rift Valley Fever in Nakasseke and Luwero respectively. 

Earlier in December 2017, the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) confirmed a positive case of CCHF in Nakaseke district. As of January 18, 2018, two confirmed and seven suspected cases had been investigated in Nakaseke district. Three of the seven suspected cases were close relatives of the patient. Samples from the seven suspected cases tested negative for CCHF. 

The new World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative to Uganda, Dr Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam has formally assumed duty on 23 January 2018 with the presentation of his Credentials to Uganda's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honorable Sam Kutesa. The presentation took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and was witnessed by dignitaries from MOFA and the WHO country office.

The new World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative to Uganda, Dr Tegegn Yonas Woldemariam, paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of Uganda, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda and the Minister of Health in their respective offices following his arrival in the country. 

Kampala, 8th December 2017:- After completing two incubation cycles (42 days) without registering any new Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) case, the recent outbreak in Uganda has been officially declared controlled.

Geneva, 8 December 2017 – Uganda has successfully controlled an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) and prevented its spread only weeks after it was first detected, the World Health Organization said on Friday (December 8). 

“Uganda has led an exemplary response. Health authorities and partners, with the support of WHO, were able to detect and control the spread of Marburg virus disease within a matter of weeks,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

Kampala, 7 December, 2017:- The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and Epidemiology and Surveillance Division (ESD) to train regional District Rapid Response Teams (DRRT) in malaria epidemic preparedness, detection and response within the context of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR). The exercise is based on the curriculum developed by WHO and adapted for country needs by the RRT training technical working group.

Kole, 5 December 2017:- The President of Uganda, His Excellency, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, called for increased involvement of men in efforts to tackle HIV & AIDS in Uganda. This was at the national commemoration of the World AIDS Day (WAD) 2017 under the theme ‘Reaching men, girls and young women, to reduce new HIV infections” at the Abilonino National Instructors College in Kole District.

Moses (not real name) is a resident of Kaproron, in Kween district, which has been experiencing the Marburg Virus Disease (MV) outbreak. Like many residents of the district, Moses had never heard of MVD before. 

Kapchorwa 2 December 2017:- The World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the European Union and the US Center for Disease Control deployed the EU mobile laboratory bringing together experts from Marburg University and Berharndt Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine at Kapchorwa District hospital to improve sample testing and enable real-time reporting of results during the Marburg outbreak.