KAMPALA, UGANDA — The World Health Organization (WHO) has donated 2,160 doses of an experimental Ebola vaccine to Uganda. This move comes in response to a recent outbreak of the Sudan strain of Ebola virus disease (SVD), which tragically claimed the life of a healthcare worker in Kampala.
The WHO, in collaboration with Ugandan health authorities, researchers from Makerere University and the Ugandan Virus Research Institute, and global experts, will initiate clinical trials to evaluate the vaccine’s effectiveness against SVD. This marks the eighth Ebola outbreak in Uganda.
“The aim of the vaccine trial is to evaluate a potentially efficacious candidate vaccine, and if efficacious, to possibly contribute to ending the ongoing outbreak and protect populations at risk in the future,” said WHO. “Those eligible to join the trial are those at highest risk of SVD, like close contacts of a person who has been confirmed to have had SVD or who has died from the disease. The study sites will therefore be the locations where contacts of the case or cases reside.”
Currently, there are no approved treatments or vaccines specifically for the Sudan virus. However, early supportive care has proven crucial in improving survival rates for individuals infected with Sudan virus disease, according to the WHO.
Uganda previously experienced an SVD outbreak from September 2022 to January 2023, resulting in 164 cases and 77 deaths.
During this outbreak, a WHO committee of external experts assessed potential vaccine candidates and recommended suitable options for clinical trials in Uganda to evaluate their effectiveness against the Sudan virus.
“The vaccine trial processes underway include orientation of the research teams on the trial procedures, and logistics arrangements. Research teams have been deployed to the field to work along with the surveillance teams as approvals are awaited,” said WHO in the statement.
According to WHO, case fatality rates of Sudan virus disease have varied from 41 percent to 100 percent in past outbreaks.
