WHO, Uganda Announces Launch Of The First (Ebola Sudan) Vaccine Trial
(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA))
GENEVA, Feb 3 (Kuna) -- The World health Organization (WHO) and Uganda's Ministry of Health announced on Monday the launch of the first ever vaccine trial for (Ebola) from the Sudan species of the virus and at an unprecedented speed for a randomized vaccine trial in an emergency.
In a statement issued from Geneva WHO said that the vaccine trial was prepared in just four days following the outbreak announcement on January 30.
The trial is led by researchers from Makerere University the Uganda Virus Research Institute and other entities to assess the vaccine's effectiveness in protecting individuals who have had direct contact with infected patients.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said "This is a critical achievement towards better pandemic preparedness and saving lives when outbreaks occur" expressing appreciation for the efforts made.
According to the statement the vaccine doses were pre-positioned in the country.
WHO worked with the principal investigators and national authorities and the vaccine developer to review cold chain documentation and ensure the doses were stored correctly over the previous years to ensure a rapid response.
The ministry adopted three vaccination rings. The first ring involves about 40 contacts and contacts of contacts of the first reported and confirmed case a health worker who has died.
According to the statement the trial is expected to provide critical data to support future vaccine licensing which could enhance public health responses against Sudan Ebola outbreaks.
WHO noted that this trial was initiated due to the absence of a licensed vaccine for the Sudan strain of Ebola. Currently licensed vaccines are only available for another strain of the Ebola virus.
WHO said that this trial is considered a key step toward addressing this gap and improving preparedness for future outbreaks.
WHO further explained that the initial vaccine protocol was developed in Uganda in 2022 during a previous outbreak of the Sudan strain.
Under the leadership of the Minister of Health, principal investigators were designated and teams were trained to conduct such trials during an active outbreak.
Last week the Ugandan government announced the first confirmed death from the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus.
The deceased was a 32-year-old nurse in Uganda.
Who stated that the virus which belongs to (Ebola) is highly dangerous and often fatal with mortality rates ranging between 41 percent and 100 percent. (end)
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