No Nipah Virus outbreak in Uganda, says health experts
“To date, no alerts, samples, or laboratory results suggestive of Nipah virus have been received or confirmed,” the statement reads.
Dr Olaro reassured the public that the ministry is working closely with national, regional, and international partners to monitor, detect, and respond to priority diseases.
KAMPALA - The Ministry of Health has dismissed reports claiming that Uganda is experiencing an outbreak of the Nipah virus, assuring the public that the country has not registered any cases of the disease.
In a statement released today, Dr Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services, said the video circulating on social media is false and warned against sharing what he termed as unverified information.
"Misinformation can generate unnecessary fear, cause panic, and undermine ongoing public health efforts," he cautioned.
“To date, no alerts, samples, or laboratory results suggestive of Nipah virus have been received or confirmed,” the statement reads.
The ministry revealed that Uganda’s surveillance systems, including event-based reporting, community monitoring networks, and the national laboratory network, remain fully operational.
Dr Olaro reassured the public that the ministry is working closely with national, regional, and international partners to monitor, detect, and respond to priority diseases.
Ugandans were reminded that the Ministry has a strong capacity for detecting and responding to public health emergencies, developed over many years through trained responders, rapid response systems, and access to medical countermeasures.
Last month, health authorities in India’s West Bengal state reported two laboratory‑confirmed cases of Nipah virus infection involving healthcare workers at a private hospital in the Barasat area.
These infections were confirmed through testing at the National Institute of Virology in Pune after the patients developed symptoms in late December 2025 and were hospitalised in early January 2026.
Understanding Nipah Virus
According to the World Health Organisation, Nipah virus is a rare but serious zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans, primarily through fruit bats. Infection can occur via.
Infection with Nipah virus can occur through contact with infected animals, particularly fruit bats, by consuming food contaminated with bat saliva, urine, or droppings, or through close contact with a person who is already infected.
People at higher risk include those who consume fruits or juices contaminated by bats, handle infected animals, or have close, unprotected contact with an infected individual.
Early symptoms of Nipah virus infection include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and sore throat. Severe cases can progress to dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, or signs of acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
After exposure, the incubation period, the time between contact and the first symptoms, is usually 4 to 14 days, but in rare cases it can be as long as 45 days.
Once symptoms begin, the disease can progress rapidly. In severe cases, patients may develop acute encephalitis (brain inflammation), respiratory distress, or coma, and death can occur within a few days to two weeks after symptoms start, especially if intensive care is not available.