Uganda Responds to Latest Ebola Sudan Outbreak
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergencies director, Mike Ryan, has commended Uganda for the swift deployment of an Ebola vaccine trial amid an ongoing epidemic. This marks Uganda’s sixth outbreak of the Ebola Sudan strain, for which no approved vaccine currently exists. Of the five known Ebola virus species, only one has licensed vaccines.
Ryan spoke with AFP at the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, near Kampala, about the trial that began on Monday.
Confidence in the New Vaccine
Ryan expressed optimism about the vaccine’s potential.
“This vaccine is built on the same platform as the highly effective Ebola Zaire vaccine, so we believe it has a strong chance of success,” he said.
Although safety trials have confirmed that the vaccine is safe, further studies are needed to assess its effectiveness. Ryan noted that this vaccine is specifically designed for outbreak situations. However, it remains uncertain how long the protection lasts, which is why continued monitoring is essential.
Historic Speed of Rollout
Ryan highlighted the unprecedented speed of this vaccine deployment.
“This is the fastest rollout of a vaccine in an active epidemic that I can remember,” he stated.
As reported by medicalxpress, he also praised Uganda’s rapid virus sequencing efforts, which allowed the Ebola Sudan strain to be sequenced and shared globally in less than 24 hours—a remarkable achievement.
Targeted Vaccine Distribution
Uganda has received approximately 2,400 doses of the vaccine. These are being administered exclusively to individuals who have been in contact with confirmed Ebola cases.
“This vaccine helps protect contacts from falling severely ill. The general population does not need to worry, as this is a targeted response to a specific outbreak,” Ryan assured.
Reflection on US Withdrawal from WHO
Ryan also commented on the impact of the United States withdrawing from the WHO.
“I’m saddened by the loss of US collaboration with the WHO, but we have learned a great deal, and the world has moved forward,” he said.
He emphasized the growing capabilities of countries like Uganda, noting significant advancements in science, medicine, and logistics compared to 20 or 30 years ago.
With Uganda’s swift response and scientific progress, health experts remain hopeful about containing the outbreak and advancing vaccine research.