Abstract:
Clinical and epidemiologic descriptions of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) are rare; case-fatality rates in previous outbreaks have ranged from 32% to 55%. Effective treatments have not been described. Among the first 21 cases (20 confirmed; one probable) in the 2026 Uganda BVD outbreak, 18 were admitted to the Mulago National Referral Hospital Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU). Among these 18, all had elevated liver enzymes, hypoalbuminemia, and hyponatremia on ETU admission. All 18 received treatment with remdesivir. Among 20 confirmed cases, 18 (90%) patients survived; two deaths occurred among patients with confirmed cases whose infections were recognized late. Seeking care promptly might have reduced the number of deaths. Communicating with the public about the benefits of seeking health care promptly when BVD is suspected might improve patient outcomes. Clinical trials of remdesivir for patients with BVD might be warranted.