A new cluster of Ebola cases has been reported in Uganda, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced on Thursday. Authorities are now stepping up monitoring and contact tracing efforts.
The outbreak, first declared in January, began in the capital, Kampala, following the death of a nurse at the country’s national referral hospital for Ebola. A four-year-old child also succumbed to the virus, according to the World Health Organization.
Since the last update, three confirmed and two probable cases have been identified in new districts. Initially, the outbreak affected three other districts. So far, Uganda has recorded 14 Ebola cases and two deaths.
“Ebola in Uganda is a critical challenge, especially with the resurgence of new cases,” said Ngashi Ngongo of the Africa CDC. He emphasized that intensified monitoring is underway across the country.
Ebola, a deadly disease, manifests through symptoms such as fever, headaches, and muscle pain. It spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissue.
Uganda last faced an Ebola outbreak in late 2022, which claimed 55 lives out of 143 infections. The previous outbreak was declared over in 2023.
Meanwhile, neighboring Tanzania declared a Marburg outbreak in January, and Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have also dealt with related viral threats. Uganda’s health officials continue to prioritize efforts to control the spread of the virus.
