Uganda has launched a clinical trial for a vaccine targeting the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, following a recent outbreak that has resulted in one death and two infections.
The first confirmed case, a 32-year-old male nurse, died last week. On Monday, the first participant in the vaccine trial—currently in isolation—received a dose of the experimental vaccine.
The vaccine was developed by the International Aids Vaccine Initiative, a global non-profit organization.
While an approved vaccine exists for the Zaire strain of Ebola, which has been prevalent in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is currently no licensed vaccine for the Sudan strain.
Ebola symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and internal or external bleeding.
The virus spreads through contact with bodily fluids and infected tissues. The Sudan strain is particularly lethal, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating a fatality rate of at least 40%.
This marks Uganda’s sixth recorded outbreak of the Sudan strain. The WHO, in collaboration with Uganda’s health ministry, confirmed that 40 contacts of the initial victim will receive the vaccine as part of the trial’s first phase. The health ministry has identified 234 contacts for monitoring.
The trial is being conducted in partnership with Uganda’s Ministry of Health, the Uganda Virus Research Institute, and the Makerere University Lung Institute.
WHO Africa Director Matshidiso Moeti described the trial as “a major milestone in public health emergency response” and emphasized the importance of global collaboration in combating infectious diseases.
“If proven effective, the vaccine will further strengthen measures to protect communities from future outbreaks,” she said.
Uganda’s previous outbreak of the Sudan strain, which began in September 2022, resulted in over 70 deaths before it was declared over in January 2023.
Although the country had access to the same candidate vaccine at the time, the outbreak ended before trials could be conducted.
Over the weekend, the first shipment of 2,160 doses of the vaccine, along with treatments, arrived in Kampala.
Health authorities and researchers have since been working rapidly to finalize study protocols, arrange logistics, and brief medical teams to ensure a smooth rollout of the trial.
Source-BBC
