Uganda Declares Ebola Outbreak

Health officials in Uganda declared an outbreak of the Sudan strain of Ebola virus disease on Sept 20 following laboratory confirmation of a suspected case in Central Uganda. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of Sept. 25, the outbreak has grown to include 18 confirmed and 18 probably cases. Officials have recorded twenty-three deaths, five of which were among confirmed cases.  
 
In response to the outbreak, WHO sent a technical team to support Uganda’s surveillance efforts, infection prevention and control activities and case management. While none of the current Ebola vaccines are effective against the Sudan strain identified in Uganda, WHO stated that at least six candidate vaccines are in different stages of development. Additionally, WHO confirmed that the organization’s Research and Development Blueprint team is in contact with vaccine developers and is leading an effort to determine which vaccines may be suitable for additional evaluation. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not classified the current outbreak as “widespread transmission,” and blood donor screening for Ebola is not recommended at this time. AABB will continue to monitor CDC communications regarding the outbreak and update the community as necessary.  

Members may contact regulatory@aabb.org with questions.