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WHO Backs Ebola Vaccine Trial : WHO Endorses Ebola Vaccine Trials in Uganda

WHO Endorses Ebola Vaccine Trials in Uganda
Kampala, Feb 4 (NationPress) The ongoing Ebola vaccine trial in Uganda is a significant milestone in combating the disease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Synopsis

Kampala, Feb 4 (NationPress) The ongoing Ebola vaccine trial in Uganda is a significant milestone in combating the disease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This marks the first-ever trial for the Sudan strain of Ebola.

Key Takeaways

  • WHO supports the Ebola vaccine trial in Uganda.
  • This is the first vaccine trial for the Sudan strain of Ebola.
  • Trial preparations were completed within four days.
  • Uganda has set up an 84-bed isolation facility.
  • No approved treatments exist for this Ebola strain yet.

Kampala, Feb 4 (NationPress) The ongoing Ebola vaccine trial in Uganda is a significant milestone in combating the disease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In a statement on its website, the WHO indicated that the trial, which commenced with individuals linked to the initial Ebola case in the nation, aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a candidate vaccine targeting the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus.

The UN agency highlighted that this marks the first-ever vaccine trial specifically for the Sudan strain of Ebola.

It mentioned that principal investigators from Makerere University and the government-operated Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), with backing from the WHO and other collaborators, managed to prepare for the trial within a short span of four days at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, after the outbreak was confirmed on January 30.

“This is a vital accomplishment for enhancing pandemic readiness and saving lives during outbreaks,” stated WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as referenced in the announcement.

This achievement was made possible due to the commitment of Uganda's healthcare workers, the participation of local communities, the Ministry of Health of Uganda, Makerere University, and UVRI, along with research initiatives led by the WHO involving numerous scientists, he noted.

Currently, there are no authorized treatments or vaccines for the Sudan strain of Ebola; however, early provision of supportive care has been shown to considerably decrease mortality, according to the WHO, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

The WHO has supplied 2,160 doses of the trial vaccine to Uganda.

With support from the WHO, Uganda has established an 84-bed Ebola isolation and treatment center in the capital, Kampala, in response to the virus outbreak, a health official reported on Monday.

Henry Kyobe Bosa, the Incident Commander at the Ministry of Health, indicated that the unit at Mulago National Referral Hospital will handle suspected and confirmed cases of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease (SVD).

“We have created an Ebola isolation unit at Mulago and dispatched a [pre-trained] national emergency medical team to manage the cases at the facility,” Bosa stated.

“The establishment of this isolation center, along with the training and deployment of the emergency team, has received support from the WHO in collaboration with the World Bank.

Another isolation unit in Mbale is expected to be operational by the end of Monday, as per Bosa.

Last week, Uganda announced an Ebola outbreak following the death of a 32-year-old nurse from the disease. The Ministry of Health reported that 45 individuals who had contact with the deceased have been identified.

The Ministry of Health has urged the public to stay calm, affirming its control over the situation and its commitment to safeguarding everyone against Ebola.

Data from the WHO revealed that Uganda's last SVD outbreak began in September 2022 and concluded in January 2023, resulting in 164 cases and 77 fatalities in the country.

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