Uganda has commenced a trial for a new vaccine against the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, following an outbreak that has already claimed one life and infected two others. The outbreak, which is the country’s sixth, began recently, with the first fatality being a 32-year-old male nurse who passed away last week.
The trial, which is being conducted in collaboration with the Uganda Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Uganda Virus Research Institute, and the Makerere University Lung Institute, saw its first participant, currently in isolation, receive a dose of the vaccine on Monday. The vaccine was developed by the International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), a global non-profit organization.
Ebola symptoms, including fever, fatigue, muscle pain, and vomiting, can quickly escalate into more severe conditions such as bleeding and organ failure. The Sudan Ebola virus has a high mortality rate, with the WHO estimating that 40% of those infected die from the disease.
The trial will initially involve vaccinating 40 individuals who had direct contact with the first confirmed victim, with the goal of preventing further spread. A total of 234 contacts have been identified and are being monitored for potential symptoms. Health authorities are hoping the vaccine will play a key role in preventing future outbreaks of this deadly disease.
This is not Uganda’s first experience with the Sudan Ebola strain. The last confirmed outbreak occurred in September 2022, which resulted in over 70 deaths. It was declared over in January 2023, but due to logistical challenges, vaccine trials were not able to be conducted before that outbreak ended.
The new trial is an essential step forward in global health efforts to combat Ebola. Currently, there is no approved vaccine specifically for the Sudan strain, although a vaccine for the Zaire strain has been successfully used in past outbreaks, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The recent shipment of 2,160 doses of the experimental vaccine arrived in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, over the weekend. Health authorities have worked quickly to ensure that research teams are ready to roll out the vaccine and monitor its effectiveness. WHO Africa Director Matshidiso Moeti emphasized the significance of this collaborative effort, stating, “This marks a major milestone in public health emergency response and demonstrates the power of collaboration for global health security.”
If successful, this vaccine could become a crucial tool in preventing the spread of the Sudan strain of Ebola in future outbreaks, offering hope for the protection of communities from this deadly virus.