Synopsis
The World Health Organisation has donated 2,160 doses of an Ebola trial vaccine to Uganda following a recent outbreak that resulted in the death of a health worker in Kampala. This initiative aims to evaluate the vaccine's effectiveness against the Sudan Ebola virus.Key Takeaways
- 2,160 doses of Ebola trial vaccine donated.
- Collaborative efforts with Uganda's Ministry of Health.
- Recent outbreak linked to a deceased nurse.
- Trial focuses on high-risk individuals.
- No approved treatments for Sudan virus exist.
Kampala, Feb 1 (NationPress) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has provided 2,160 doses of an Ebola trial vaccine to Uganda to assess its effectiveness against the virus, which recently claimed the life of a health professional in Kampala, the nation’s capital.
WHO is collaborating with Uganda’s Ministry of Health, the Makerere University Lung Institute, and the Ugandan Virus Research Institute, alongside global filovirus and trial specialists and regulators to launch the trials, as mentioned in a statement on the WHO website.
On Thursday, Uganda's Ministry of Health announced an Ebola outbreak after a 32-year-old male nurse at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala died from Sudan Ebola virus disease (SVD), marking the eighth occurrence of this lethal disease in the East African nation.
According to WHO, “The goal of the vaccine trial is to assess a potentially effective candidate vaccine and, if proven effective, to help curb the current outbreak and safeguard vulnerable populations in the future.” Those eligible for participation in the trial include individuals at the greatest risk of SVD, such as close contacts of confirmed cases or those who have succumbed to the disease. Consequently, trial locations will be established where these contacts reside.
While there are no sanctioned treatments or vaccines for the Sudan virus, early supportive care has been shown to significantly lower mortality rates from Sudan virus disease, as stated by WHO.
Uganda's last SVD outbreak commenced in September 2022 and concluded in January 2023, resulting in 164 cases and 77 deaths in the nation.
During that outbreak, a WHO committee of external experts assessed candidate vaccines and provided guidance on their suitability for evaluation in Uganda, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
WHO noted that the vaccine trial processes currently include training for research teams on trial protocols and logistical arrangements. Research teams have been dispatched to the field to collaborate with surveillance teams as they await necessary approvals.
According to WHO, the case fatality rates for Sudan virus disease have fluctuated from 41% to 100% in previous outbreaks.
