Ugandan officials are gearing up to introduce a trial vaccine in an effort to contain an outbreak of Ebola in the capital city of Kampala, according to a top health official. The vaccine, aimed at combating the Sudan strain of Ebola, is currently in the research and development phase, with over 2,000 doses set to be deployed.
The World Health Organization has pledged its support to Uganda's response efforts by providing access to 2,160 doses of the trial vaccine. Research teams are on the ground collaborating with surveillance teams while awaiting regulatory approvals for the vaccine deployment.
There are currently no approved vaccines for the Sudan strain of Ebola, which claimed the life of a nurse at Kampala's main referral hospital. The outbreak was declared shortly after the nurse's death, with investigations ongoing to determine the source of the outbreak.
Uganda has faced previous Ebola outbreaks, including a significant one in 2000 that resulted in numerous fatalities. The ongoing outbreak in Kampala poses challenges due to the city's large and mobile population of approximately 4 million.
Tracing contacts is crucial in containing the spread of Ebola, a viral hemorrhagic fever that can be transmitted through bodily fluids. At least 44 contacts of the victim in the current outbreak have been identified, including health workers and patients.
Meanwhile, neighboring Tanzania recently declared an outbreak of the Ebola-like Marburg disease, while Rwanda announced the end of its Marburg outbreak. The region has been grappling with various viral hemorrhagic fevers, underscoring the importance of swift and coordinated responses to such outbreaks.
Ebola, first discovered in 1976 during simultaneous outbreaks in South Sudan and Congo, remains a significant public health concern. The disease is believed to be transmitted through contact with infected animals or consumption of their raw meat.
Efforts to combat the current Ebola outbreak in Kampala are underway, with the trial vaccine and contact tracing playing pivotal roles in curbing further transmission of the disease.
