According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ebola outbreak in Uganda has escalated, bringing the total number of cases to 12 from the 10 previously reported. Two deaths from early February are now classified as probable cases.
The WHO also confirmed the recent death of a four-year-old child at Mulago, the country’s national referral hospital. The organization’s latest bulletin identified the child’s mother and sibling as probable Ebola cases. The mother died shortly after birth on February 6, while the newborn succumbed to the disease on February 12. Their cases were not initially confirmed because laboratory tests were not performed.
The four-year-old, who died on Saturday, had been treated at four different health facilities before her death, but had not previously been identified as having been in contact with the first confirmed case of the outbreak.
Uganda first declared an outbreak of the Sudanese strain of Ebola in January. The virus, which causes severe symptoms such as fever, headache and muscle pain, is spread through contact with infected body fluids and tissues.
In response to the crisis, the UN has launched an urgent appeal to raise $11.2 million to support Uganda’s Ebola response, as the country faces financial hardship following cuts in US foreign aid. Uganda has also launched a trial vaccination program specifically targeting the Sudanese strain, as existing vaccines are designed for the Zaire strain responsible for recent outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo.