Health 11 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Ugandan Medics Exposed to Bundibugyo Ebola Strain During Resuscitation of Congolese Patient
A desperate attempt to save a dying Congolese national at Kampala Hospital led to the exposure of five Ugandan healthcare workers, including an ambulance driver, to the rare and lethal Bundibugyo Ebola virus strain. The patient, who had secretly crossed into Uganda for treatment, later succumbed to the infectious hemorrhagic fever. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/how-desperate-bid-to-save-congolese-national-exposed-ugandan-medics-to-ebola-5492212
Five Ugandan healthcare workers are critically ill after contracting the Bundibugyo Ebola virus strain. The exposure occurred during a frantic effort to resuscitate a critically ill national from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at Kampala Hospital. The DRC patient, who had entered Uganda seeking advanced medical care, unfortunately passed away from the highly contagious disease.
Dr. Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services, detailed the harrowing incident during a televised presidential address. The medical team, unaware of the specific Ebola strain, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and attempted to insert an endotracheal tube on the patient who was experiencing cardiac arrest, significant bleeding, and projectile vomiting. This intervention, carried out without adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), put the staff at immense risk.
President Yoweri Museveni questioned the conduct of the medical staff, but Dr. Olaro defended their actions, stating they were driven by an instinct to save a life in a chaotic emergency. He emphasized that the Bundibugyo strain is particularly infectious in its terminal stages, with the virus migrating to bodily fluids and the skin.
President Museveni announced new border health policies, including a dedicated Ebola treatment center at the Ituri border, to prevent clandestine entries and ensure foreign nationals receive care in their home countries. Unlike other Ebola strains, the Bundibugyo strain currently lacks a specific vaccine or approved treatment, though clinical trials are underway.
Health officials stressed the importance of prevention due to the virus’s resilience, noting it can persist in the body for months even after recovery. The Ministry of Health confirmed 19 cumulative cases, with 14 imported from the DRC and 5 indigenous Ugandan cases, though the President indicated a decline in new infections. Strict protocols for contact tracing and border screening are being reinforced.