Uganda has initiated a clinical trial of an experimental vaccine targeting the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, following an outbreak that claimed the life of a health worker in the capital, Kampala, last week, Al Jazeera reports.
The trial, which began just four days after the outbreak was declared, focuses on vaccinating health workers and other individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.
Two additional cases were confirmed on Monday, involving relatives of the first victim.
This marks the sixth time Uganda has been affected by an outbreak of the Sudan strain, a particularly concerning type of Ebola for which there is currently no approved vaccine. While licensed vaccines exist for one of the five other known Ebola species, the Sudan strain has remained a challenge.
The global health community remains acutely aware of the devastating potential of Ebola. The deadliest Ebola epidemic in history, which ravaged West Africa between 2013 and 2016, resulted in the deaths of over 11,300 people.
Recognizing the need for rapid response, a framework for candidate vaccines was established during a previous Sudan Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda in 2022. This proactive measure has enabled the swift implementation of the current trial.
The vaccine doses are being administered using a “ring” vaccination strategy. This involves providing initial vaccinations to all direct contacts of confirmed Ebola patients, followed by vaccinations for contacts of those direct contacts.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the initial ring identified on Monday encompassed 40 direct contacts and contacts of contacts related to the deceased health worker.
Ebola is transmitted between humans through direct contact with bodily fluids. The characteristic symptoms of the disease include fever, vomiting, bleeding, and diarrhea.
Of the eight previous outbreaks of the Sudan Ebola virus, five have occurred in Uganda and three in Sudan. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has experienced over a dozen Ebola epidemics, with the deadliest, in 2020, resulting in 2,280 fatalities.
