Uganda is facing a looming health crisis following a confirmed Ebola death. Now, concerns mount over the country’s ability to contain the latest outbreak of Sudan Virus Disease.
Health officials are alarmed by gaps in the detection of new cases, which they say could lead to a more widespread outbreak.
On Monday, Dr. Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary in Uganda’s Ministry of Health, expressed her concerns about health workers failing to properly assess the medical history of patients.
This is reportedly affecting their ability to spot Ebola cases early.
The latest confirmed death, a four-and-a-half-year-old boy, illustrates just how problematic this oversight can be.
He was initially treated for malaria at several health facilities before being diagnosed with Ebola over a week later.
How Ebola Unfolded
The young boy first sought treatment at a private health facility in Kibuli on February 15, showing signs of severe fever.
Doctors initially suspected malaria, even though all blood tests for the disease came back negative. His symptoms worsened, with seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, and restlessness, classic Ebola signs.
Tragically, just days before the child fell ill, he lost his mother and newborn sibling, who were both likely victims of the same virus.
By February 23, the child was admitted to the Acute Care Unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, still unconscious.
Dr. Eric Wabudeya, a senior pediatric consultant at Mulago, noted that health workers failed to suspect Ebola, even after seeing traces of dry blood on the child’s lips.
It wasn’t until after taking samples and sending the body back to the family that health officials confirmed it was an Ebola case.
Dr. Wabudeya admits that this serious oversight could have endangered many more lives.
With the virus being highly contagious, this delay in detection has sparked fears that the disease could spread rapidly if not properly contained.
Health Workers In Denial
Dr. Atwine pointed out that some health workers are still in denial about the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
As of Monday, 188 contacts have been identified, but it’s unclear how many have tested positive.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed 10 cases so far, though they’ve been reluctant to share more details with the public.
This is Uganda’s sixth outbreak of the Sudan strain of Ebola. The most recent one was in September 2022, which resulted in 164 cases and 55 deaths.
Despite this history, the current outbreak has caught officials off guard, and it’s still unclear where it originated.
Col. Dr. Henry Kyobe, the Incident Manager for this outbreak, revealed that the cases appear to have spread in two main clusters, one within families and the other at health facilities.
As a result, districts like Luweero, Ntoroko, and Kabarole have now been added to the list of high-risk areas, joining Mbale, Wakiso, Kampala, and Mukono.
Containment Struggles
The Ministry of Health is now urging health workers to carefully screen all patients, especially those showing signs of fever and other symptoms, for possible Ebola infection.
Early detection is vital to prevent further spread, as the virus is highly contagious and deadly. Health officials are also working to trace the virus’s origins.
Dr. Kyobe says they are focusing on the two main clusters, but it remains a challenge to pinpoint exactly where the virus entered the country.
The death of this child is a stark reminder of the dangers of complacency in the face of such a deadly disease.
As the investigation continues, Uganda must act swiftly to avoid a larger, more devastating crisis.
END.
English 