Raising Awareness about an Ebola Disease Outbreak caused by Sudan Virus in Uganda

Raising Awareness about an Ebola Disease Outbreak caused by Sudan Virus in Uganda

February 11, 2025

Dear Colleague:

On February 6, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory for clinicians and public health staff about an Ebola outbreak in Uganda caused by Sudan virus. The Ministry Health of Uganda announced the outbreak on January 30, 2025. To date, there have been no cases of Sudan virus disease (SVD) outside of Uganda. CDC recently escalated its travel advisory for Uganda to Level 2 (Practice Enhanced Precautions). CDC does not currently recommend public health screening or monitoring of travelers returning from Uganda.

Below is a summary of select CDC recommendations for clinicians; please refer to the CDC health advisory for detailed recommendations.

  • Assess patients with compatible illness for exposure risk and potential SVD through a triage and evaluation process, including obtaining a travel history.
  • Consider SVD in the differential diagnosis for ill persons who have been in an area with an active SVD outbreak, who have compatible symptoms, and who have reported epidemiologic risk factors within 21 days of symptom onset.
  • Consider and perform testing for more common diagnoses (e.g. malaria, influenza, or more common causes of gastrointestinal or febrile illness in patients with recent international travel). Evaluate and manage these patients appropriately.
  • Follow CDC’s Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients in U.S. Hospitals who are Suspected or Confirmed to have Selected Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHF). Isolate and manage patients with exposure risks and symptoms compatible with SVD in a healthcare facility until receiving a negative SVD test result on a sample collected ≥ 72 hours after symptom onset. Do not defer routine laboratory testing or other measures necessary for standard patient care.

Please immediately contact your local health department to report any patient with compatible signs and symptoms and an epidemiologic risk factor. During this consultation, local health department staff will discuss if Sudan virus testing at the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) is appropriate. DCLS testing requires VDH and CDC preapproval and testing instructions are available.

Thank you for all you do to protect the health of Virginians each day. For more information about Sudan virus disease or this outbreak, please visit the following websites:

Sincerely,

Karen Shelton, MD
State Health Commissioner

Last Updated: February 11, 2025