Uganda — Uganda is grappling with a resurgence of Ebola cases, with the number of confirmed infections rising to 14 in the past week. The latest cluster, linked to the tragic death of a 4-year-old child, has raised alarms among health authorities. According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), three of the five new cases have been confirmed as Ebola, while two are suspected to be infected with the deadly virus.
The new cluster seems unrelated to the initial wave of cases, which involved nine individuals, including the first victim, a nurse. While Uganda’s health officials insist that the outbreak is under control, concerns about transparency persist, especially after several hospitals in the capital, Kampala, failed to report confirmed or suspected cases publicly.
The virus, now affecting five of Uganda’s 146 districts, including Kampala, has already led to two deaths. Uganda’s Ministry of Health continues to investigate the outbreak’s origin, with scientists suspecting an initial case linked to infected animal contact or consumption of raw meat.
Without an approved vaccine for the Sudan strain of Ebola currently circulating in the country, contact tracing and isolation remain the critical strategies to curb the spread of the virus. Experts warn that the situation is fluid, with sporadic cases complicating efforts to control the epidemic.
Following the recent Marburg outbreaks in neighboring Tanzania and Rwanda, this outbreak adds to the growing pattern of viral hemorrhagic fevers in East Africa. Uganda, with its history of recurring Ebola crises, remains on high alert as it fights to contain this persistent public health threat.
