A child aged four has died of Ebola in Uganda, marking the second fatality from the virus since its occurrence was declared in January. The World Health Organization reported this on Saturday. Ugandan health authorities had previously confirmed ten infections of the Sudan strain of Ebola.

The child’s death disappointed health officials who had hoped that the disease was under “control,” following eight individuals who had recovered after treatment. The victim passed away at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, which is the only facility equipped to handle Ebola cases in the country. The first victim of the outbreak was a male nurse who died before the outbreak was declared on January 30.

Ebola symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle pains, and bleeding, with transmission occurring through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissue. The WHO views contract tracing as crucial in curbing the spread of Ebola and is working with other organizations to strengthen this alongside surveillance.

Although there are no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain, Uganda initiated a vaccination trial this month. The WHO provided at least $3 million to support Uganda’s Ebola response; however, there is concern regarding funding following the US administration’s decision to cut assistance to USAID.

Uganda’s previous outbreak in September 2022 claimed at least 55 lives before being declared over in January 2023. Ebola has resulted in over 15,000 deaths in Africa in the last fifty years. It was first identified in 1976 during simultaneous outbreaks in South Sudan and what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the name originating from a nearby river.

Source: http://www.africanews.com/2025/03/02/young-child-becomes-second-person-to-die-of-ebola-in-uganda/