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KAMPALA, Uganda – The death of a 4-year-old child from Ebola in Uganda has cast a shadow over efforts to contain the outbreak, raising concerns about disease surveillance and the impact of funding cuts on public health initiatives. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the child’s death on Saturday, marking the second fatality since the outbreak began in late January.1
The child, hospitalized at a primary referral facility in Kampala, died on Tuesday. The WHO office in Uganda stated that they are working with local authorities to strengthen surveillance and contact tracing, but provided no further details.
This death has undermined previous assertions from Ugandan officials that the outbreak was under control, particularly following the discharge of eight Ebola patients earlier in February.2 The initial fatality was a male nurse who died on January 29th, after seeking treatment at multiple facilities and consulting a traditional healer.3
Health officials are still investigating the source of the outbreak. Contact tracing is crucial for curbing Ebola’s spread, especially as there are no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain affecting Uganda.4
The WHO reports that over 20,000 travelers are screened daily at Uganda’s border crossings, with WHO support.5 However, funding challenges have emerged following the U.S. administration’s decision to terminate 60% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts.
Dithan Kiragga, executive director of the Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation, revealed that their group, which supported Ebola surveillance, had to halt passenger screening due to the termination of their USAID contract. The $27 million, five-year contract, signed in 2022, supported 85 full-time staff involved in various public health activities.6
Charles Olaro, director of health services at Uganda’s Ministry of Health, acknowledged the impact of U.S. aid cuts on non-governmental organizations supporting infectious disease responses.7 “There are challenges, but we need to adjust to the new reality,” he stated.
Ebola, transmitted through contact with bodily fluids or contaminated materials, causes hemorrhagic fever with symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and bleeding.8 Scientists believe the initial infection likely stemmed from contact with an infected animal or its raw meat.
Uganda’s previous Ebola outbreak in 2022 resulted in at least 55 deaths. The region is also grappling with other viral hemorrhagic fevers, with Tanzania recently declaring a Marburg disease outbreak and Rwanda having concluded its own Marburg outbreak in December.9
Uganda has a history of Ebola outbreaks, notably the 2000 outbreak that claimed hundreds of lives.10 The 2014-16 West Africa Ebola outbreak, the deadliest on record, killed over 11,000 people.11
Ebola was first identified in 1976 during simultaneous outbreaks in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, near the Ebola River.12
© 2025 The Associated Press.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided by the Associated Press and should not be considered medical advice. If you have concerns about Ebola or any other health issues, please consult with a qualified healthcare professional. Public health situations are dynamic, and information can change rapidly. For the most up to date information, please consult the WHO or your local health officials.
