Sun Mar 02 03:45:14 UTC 2025: ## Second Ebola Death in Uganda Underscores Outbreak Challenges Amidst Funding Cuts

**Kampala, Uganda —** A four-year-old child has become the second fatality from the Ebola outbreak in Uganda, casting a shadow over recent optimism from health officials. The child died on February 25th at a Kampala hospital, according to a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 1st. This setback follows the earlier discharge of eight Ebola patients in February, which had led to hopes that the outbreak, declared on January 30th, was nearing its end.

The initial victim, a male nurse, died on January 29th after seeking treatment at multiple facilities, including a traditional healer. Investigations into the source of the outbreak are ongoing. The current outbreak is caused by the Sudan strain of Ebola, for which no vaccines are currently available. Contact tracing remains crucial to controlling its spread.

The WHO is supporting Uganda’s response, providing at least $3 million in aid. However, concerns over funding have arisen following the US administration’s decision to terminate 60% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts. This has already impacted the work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like the Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation, which has halted its Ebola surveillance activities due to contract termination. The loss of US funding, according to Ugandan health officials, has created challenges for various groups involved in infectious disease response.

Over 20,000 travelers are screened daily at Uganda’s borders, but the impact of reduced funding on these efforts remains unclear. The outbreak comes amidst a series of viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in East Africa, including a Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania and a previous one in Rwanda. Uganda has experienced multiple Ebola outbreaks, with a devastating one in 2000 claiming hundreds of lives. The current situation highlights the ongoing challenges in containing Ebola and the crucial role of international funding in effective public health responses.

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