Uganda Reports Second Death of A Child From Ebola; Concerns Raised Over Disease Surveillance in Outbreak

A 4-year-old child has become the second victim of Ebola in Uganda, the World Health Organisation said. While the health officials hoped for a quick end to the outbreak that began in January, the source of his infection is yet to be traced.

According to the WHO, the child had been hospitalized at the main referral facility in Kampala, the capital of the East African country, and died within three days. WHO said its officials are working with the country’s health officials to strengthen surveillance and contact tracing. There were no other details about the death and local health officials are not commenting on the case.

The death undermines Ugandan officials’ assertions of an outbreak under control after eight Ebola patients were discharged earlier in February. The first victim was a male nurse who died the day before the outbreak was declared on Jan. 30. He had sought treatment at multiple facilities in Kampala and in eastern Uganda, where he also visited a traditional healer in trying to diagnose his illness, before later dying in Kampala.

The successful treatment of eight patients who had been contacts of that man, including some of his relatives, had left local health officials anticipating the outbreak's end. But they are still investigating its source.

Tracing contacts is key to stemming the spread of Ebola, and there are no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain of Ebola that's infecting people in Uganda.

Officials say they screen more than 20,000 travelers for Ebola at Uganda’s different border crossing points. The WHO has given Uganda at least $3 million to support its Ebola response. Still, there have been concerns about adequate funding in the wake of the US administration’s decision to terminate 60 per cent of USAID foreign aid contracts.

What is Ebola?

Ebola is a type of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by several species of viruses from the genus Ebolavirus. Symptoms of Ebola start flu-like but can progress to severe vomiting, bleeding, and neurological issues.

Ebola spreads to people from bats, nonhuman primates, and antelopes. From there it can spread from human to human and cause outbreaks, most of which happen in parts of Africa.

Signs and symptoms of Ebola

A few major signs and symptoms of Ebola include:

• Severe headache
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• Rashes or spots of blood under your skin
• Fatigue and weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Bleeding or bruising
• Red or bloodshot eyes

According to experts, symptoms of Ebola can come in phases, with flu-like symptoms first and severe symptoms like vomiting and bleeding following a few days later. Seek immediate medical attention if you have these symptoms.

Ebolaviruses spread through contact with the body fluids of infected humans or animals, which include pee, poop. Spit, breast milk, and vaginal fluids. However, you can also get it from surfaces, objects, or medical devices that are contaminated with the virus. Humans may get it from eating the meat of infected animals.

Ebola can stay in certain parts of your body for weeks or months, even after your symptoms go away. These include your eyes, central nervous system, and semen.

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