The World Health Organization (WHO) has disclosed that on 30 January 2025, the Ministry of Health of Uganda declared an outbreak of Sudan virus disease (SVD) following confirmation from three national reference laboratories.
According to the statement released by the Agency on Saturday stating that this case presented with signs, symptoms between 20 and 21 January and died on 29 January at the National Referral Hospital in Kampala.
It added that as of 30 January 2025, 45 contacts have been identified, including 34 healthcare workers and 11 family members.
Revealing that Sudan virus disease belongs to the same family as Ebola virus disease and caused by Sudan virus (SUDV). It is a severe disease with high case fatality from 41% to 70% in past outbreaks.
“In the absence of licensed vaccines and therapeutics for prevention, treatment of SVD, the risk of potential serious public health impact is high. Early supportive patient care and treatment may increase the chance of survival from severe disease”, the Agency said.
Meanwhile, WHO and partners have immediately boosted their support to the Ugandan government’s response to the outbreak including by facilitating access to a candidate vaccine and candidate treatments. 
In a statement earlier, the Agency said it has supplied the first 2160 doses of the vaccine candidate and the treatments are already in Kampala, Uganda, as they were prepositioned as part of outbreak preparedness.
“The vaccine trial processes underway include orientation of the research teams on the trial procedures, and logistics arrangements. Research teams have been deployed to the field to work along with the surveillance teams as approvals are awaited.
“The candidate vaccine and the candidate treatments (a monoclonal antibody and an antiviral) are being made available through clinical trial protocols, which will make it possible to further document their efficacy and safety.
“While outbreaks of SVD are controllable without vaccines, control can be achieved more quickly using safe and effective vaccines. 
In the meantime, a comprehensive outbreak response is underway in Uganda to rapidly halt transmission, identify contacts and carry out epidemiological investigations, while enhancing community awareness.
The Agency revealed further that it has allocated US$ 1 million from Contingency Fund for Emergencies to help accelerate outbreak control efforts.
It was reported that Uganda has experienced five previous SVD outbreaks. The last one was declared in September 2022 and ended in January 2023, with 164 cases and 77 deaths.
During that outbreak, a WHO committee of external experts evaluated candidate vaccines and provided recommendations on their suitability for evaluation in Uganda, as part of a clinical trial against the SVD virus.
