First child dies of Ebola in new outbreak in Uganda

Save the Children, 12th June 

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• When disasters and disease outbreaks strike, Save the Children’s Emergency Fund allows us to respond wherever the need is greatest in countries like Uganda and DRC.

LONDON, June 12 — Save the Children is distressed to learn the five-year-old boy diagnosed with Ebola in Uganda on Tuesday has died from the illness. The child was isolated and admitted for treatment, but medics were unable to save him. Another two cases have now been confirmed, bringing the total number of cases in Uganda in the past 24 hours to three. 

The child’s death highlights the vulnerability of children to Ebola, and Save the Children is warning that governments, donors and agencies must act immediately to prevent further deaths.

Brechtje van Lith, Save the Children’s Country Director in Uganda, said: “Ebola is a horrific illness that ravages the human body. We’ve been told this young boy was diagnosed after showing severe symptoms of Ebola, including vomiting blood. This first death, of a child, is a sickening reminder of the dangers of this disease.

“We are particularly concerned about the remaining stigma in some communities around Ebola, which can hinder the efforts of health teams and cause the disease to spread faster. The spread of misinformation and community mistrust about Ebola is a major factor in its spread in DRC, and we are urging donors and governments to invest more in community-level prevention activities in Uganda.”

In response to these first cases of Ebola to hit Uganda, Save the Children is scaling up its existing prevention activities, including community awareness and mobilisation sessions and training village health teams.

For the past year, Save the Children has been working with local communities and district authorities in western Uganda to help mitigate the spread of the outbreak. The agency has trained more than 1,000 Ugandan health workers, volunteers, teachers, village health teams and laboratory staff on key steps to prevent and respond to cases; provided key Infection Prevention Control materials at health facilities and points of entry; and installed handwashing facilities in rural communities to reduce the risk. If the disease spreads further in Uganda Save the Children is also ready to ensure critical child protection and psychosocial services for children and families affected by Ebola.

ENDS

• We have spokespeople available in Uganda and DRC. To arrange interviews please contact Please contact Dan Stewart on d.stewart@savethechildren.org.uk / +44 (0)20 3763 0119 or 24 hours: media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44 (0) 7831 650 409 with any enquiries.

• Save the Children stand side by side with children in the toughest places to be a child. We do whatever it takes to make sure they survive, get protection when they’re in danger, and have the chance to learn. Together, we fight for children every single day. Because every child should be able to make their mark on their world, and help to build a better future.
• When disasters and disease outbreaks strike, Save the Children’s Emergency Fund allows us to respond wherever the need is greatest in countries like Uganda and DRC.