NAIROBI, Kenya – Uganda has received the first 2,160 doses of an experimental Ebola vaccine, marking a critical step in containing a new outbreak of Sudan virus disease.
The vaccine rollout, part of an ongoing clinical trial, comes just days after the death of a 32-year-old nurse at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, which led to the official outbreak declaration.
Ugandan health authorities are set to begin an Ebola vaccine trial after new outbreak kills a nurse Read the story here: tinyurl.com/55b2cawt
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the vaccine’s arrival, stating that the doses will be administered to those at the highest risk, including close contacts of confirmed cases and frontline healthcare workers.
The goal? To assess the efficacy and safety of the candidate vaccine through a structured ring vaccination trial—a strategy used to contain the spread by immunizing people in the immediate circle of an infected individual.
How Uganda is Deploying the Vaccine
In collaboration with Makerere University Lung Institute and the Uganda Virus Research Institute, the WHO will oversee vaccine distribution at high-risk locations, ensuring rapid deployment where contacts of infected individuals reside.
Mobile study teams will be dispatched to administer doses, closely monitoring outbreak hotspots for maximum containment.
“While outbreaks can be controlled without vaccines, response efforts can be significantly accelerated with safe and effective immunization,” WHO emphasized in its statement.
To support Uganda’s outbreak response, WHO has allocated $1 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies, reinforcing the country’s capacity to curb the spread and protect healthcare workers.
Kenya Steps Up Surveillance at Borders
Though Kenya has never recorded an Ebola outbreak, its proximity to Uganda has raised concerns about cross-border transmission.
On Friday, the Ministry of Health announced heightened surveillance at border points and across all counties, with a rapid assessment of Kenya’s preparedness and response capabilities already underway.
🔴 Ebola Alert: The Ministry of Health has noted the confirmed outbreak of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease in Kampala, Uganda, and is taking proactive measures to protect Kenyans. ✔️ Enhanced Surveillance at all points of entry and counties. ✔️ Rapid Assessment of Kenya’s capacity to…
“A comprehensive plan will be developed to guide countrywide preparedness and response activities for Ebola,” said Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni.
Uganda, which has battled five previous Ebola outbreaks, last experienced a Sudan virus outbreak from September 2022 to January 2023, resulting in 164 cases and 77 deaths.
Unlike the more common Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan virus disease has no approved vaccines or treatments, making early supportive care essential to reducing fatalities.
What’s Next?
With ring vaccination trials in motion and regional surveillance on high alert, authorities hope to contain this outbreak before it spirals. For now, the spotlight remains on Uganda’s vaccination efforts, Kenya’s border defenses, and global health organizations rallying to keep the virus in check.
