KAMPALA, Uganda – In a race against time, Uganda has initiated a clinical trial for a vaccine targeting the deadly Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, following a fresh outbreak that has already claimed one life and infected two others.
The trial, a collaborative effort between Ugandan health authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO), and global health organizations, marks a critical step in combating a virus with no currently approved vaccine.
The outbreak began last week when a 32-year-old male nurse succumbed to the virus.
On Monday, the first participant in the trial—a contact of the deceased—received an experimental vaccine dose while in isolation.
The vaccine, developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), represents a beacon of hope in the fight against a disease that has historically devastated communities.
Unlike the Zaire strain of Ebola, which has an existing vaccine, the Sudan strain has remained elusive, with no approved immunization available.
The Sudan variant is particularly lethal, with a fatality rate of at least 40%, according to the WHO.
Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, and internal bleeding, with transmission occurring through contact with infected bodily fluids or tissues.
This is Uganda’s sixth encounter with the Sudan Ebola virus.
The most recent outbreak, which began in September 2022, claimed over 70 lives before being declared over in January 2023.
At the time, Uganda had access to the same candidate vaccine but was unable to conduct trials before the outbreak subsided.
This time, however, health authorities are moving swiftly to ensure the trial proceeds without delay.
Over the weekend, 2,160 doses of the experimental vaccine and treatments arrived in Kampala, Uganda’s capital.
Health teams have since worked around the clock to prepare for the trial, briefing researchers, organizing logistics, and finalizing study protocols.
The initial phase will vaccinate 40 contacts of the first victim, with 234 individuals currently under monitoring.
The trial is a joint effort involving Uganda’s Ministry of Health, the Uganda Virus Research Institute, and the Makerere University Lung Institute.
Its success could not only curb the current outbreak but also provide a vital tool for preventing future epidemics.
