Recently the Ugandan government and WHO confirmed a Sudan virus disease (SVD) outbreak.

About Sudan Virus Disease

• Sudan virus disease (SVD) is a viral hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, first identified in southern Sudan in 1976.
• Caused by  Sudan virus (SUDV) belonging to the Filoviridae family. 
  • It is  an enzootic virus present in animal reservoirs in affected regions.
• Reservoir: Likely found in bats and non-human primates. 
• Similarity to Ebola Virus: Sudan virus and Ebola virus both belong to the Orthoebolavirus family and cause severe hemorrhagic fever, sharing similar symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding, but require different vaccines due to genetic differences.
• Spread: Person-to-person transmission occurs through direct contact with:
  • Blood and bodily fluids of infected individuals.
  • Contaminated surfaces, materials, and infected animals.
• Transmission risk increases with disease severity.

Symptoms

• Early Symptoms: Fever, fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, abdominal pain and anorexia.
• Progression: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash and hiccups.
• Severe Cases: Hemorrhagic symptoms (bleeding, petechiae, ecchymoses), encephalopathy, shock, multi-organ failure which may lead to fatality.
• High Fatality: It is a highly fatal disease with the 2022 Sudan virus outbreak  in Uganda resulting in 164 cases and 77 deaths showing up to 47% fatality rate.

Treatment and Control Measures

• No approved treatments or vaccines for Sudan virus.
• Supportive care improves survival: Fluid replacement, pain management, and treatment of co-infections such as malaria can avoid fatality.
• Preventive measures: Contact tracing, isolation, and strict infection control.
• Ongoing research: Phase 1 vaccine trials and monoclonal antibody treatments are being explored.