Uganda has reported its sixth Ebola outbreak. A four-year-old child has died from the virus, making them the second fatality in this outbreak.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that Uganda’s Ministry of Health detected the case at Mulago Hospital. The child tested positive and died on Tuesday.
On the same day, health officials identified ten cases of a new Ebola strain. The first victim, a male nurse, died before officials declared the outbreak on 30 January.
In February, the Ministry of Health announced that all eight Ebola patients had recovered and left the hospital. However, at least 265 people remain in quarantine in Kampala.
Health experts have linked this outbreak to the Sudan Ebola strain, which has no approved vaccine.
Ebola spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissues. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, and muscle pain. The 2014–2016 outbreak in West Africa caused over 11,000 deaths, making it the deadliest on record.
Funding cuts have made Ebola surveillance in Africa more difficult. Many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) relied on support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Charles Olaro, Director of Health Services at Uganda’s Ministry of Health, said some NGOs have struggled due to these cuts. He added that health authorities must find ways to adapt.
