Ebola Outbreak in Uganda Claims Second Life, Raises Alarm

A four-year-old child has become the second recorded death from the recent Ebola outbreak in Uganda, as confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The child passed away at a referral facility in Kampala, following the earlier death of a male nurse, who was the first victim of the outbreak declared on January 30. Despite the earlier successful treatment of eight Ebola patients, health officials are now facing challenges in containing the outbreak, particularly as there are no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain currently affecting Uganda. The WHO is actively working to enhance surveillance and contact tracing efforts, with over 20,000 travelers being screened daily at border points. However, concerns have arisen regarding funding for these efforts, especially after the U.S. administration's decision to cut 60% of USAID's foreign aid contracts, which previously supported several NGOs involved in disease monitoring. Local health officials continue to investigate the source of the outbreak while emphasizing the importance of contact tracing to prevent further spread.