Uganda has launched a clinical trial for a vaccine targeting the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, which is responsible for the country’s most recent outbreak. This development comes as the number of confirmed cases rises to three, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Uganda’s Ministry of Health spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona while speaking to Reuters Last week said the East African nation declared an Ebola outbreak in the capital, Kampala, following the death of a nurse on 29th January. Initially, only one case was reported, but two additional cases which are both relatives of the deceased have since been confirmed.
In a post on X later that day, WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, announced that Uganda had commenced a clinical trial for a vaccine designed specifically for the Sudan strain of Ebola. At present, no approved vaccine exists for this strain; the available vaccine targets the Zaire strain, which has been responsible for recent outbreaks in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Moeti stated that this marked a significant milestone in public health emergency response and highlights the power of collaboration in strengthening global health security, adding that if proven effective, this vaccine will be instrumental in protecting communities from future outbreaks.
Director of the Makerere Lung Institute, Bruce Kirenga, one of the organisations leading the trial aid that the vaccine had been developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI). The institute has received approximately 2,460 doses for the trial. The Ugandan Ministry of Health previously stated that the trial would primarily involve individuals who had been in contact with confirmed Ebola cases.
Ebola is a highly fatal disease, with symptoms including haemorrhaging, severe headaches, and muscle pain. The virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and tissue. With the introduction of this trial, Uganda hopes to bolster its defences against future outbreaks and mitigate the impact of the virus on affected communities.
