WHO Launches Vaccine Trial for Sudan Virus Disease in Uganda
WHO has allocated $1 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to accelerate outbreak control.
KAMPALA, Uganda— The World Health Organization has initiated a clinical trial for a candidate vaccine against Sudan virus disease, a deadly virus in the Ebola family, amid an ongoing outbreak in Uganda, writes Winston Mwale.
As of January 30, health officials reported one confirmed case and identified 45 contacts under surveillance.
The first 2,160 vaccine doses and treatments have already arrived in Kampala, positioned through pre-outbreak preparedness efforts.
The trial will use a ring vaccination approach, targeting individuals at highest risk: close contacts of confirmed or deceased SVD patients.
Research teams from Makerere University Lung Institute and the Ugandan Virus Research Institute are deploying to field sites.
Uganda has previously experienced five SVD outbreaks, with the most recent in 2022-2023 resulting in 164 cases and 77 deaths.
Case fatality rates have historically ranged from 41% to 100%.
"While outbreaks are controllable without vaccines, control can be achieved more quickly using safe and effective vaccines," WHO officials stated.
The trial involves multiple international partners, including IAVI, which provided the candidate vaccine, and Gilead, which supplied remdesivir, an antiviral treatment.
WHO has allocated $1 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to accelerate outbreak control.
No approved treatments or vaccines currently exist for Sudan virus disease, making this trial critical for potential future interventions.