The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have intensified support to Uganda in response to a recent outbreak of Sudan virus disease (SVD), a member of the Ebola virus family. This includes facilitating access to a candidate vaccine and treatments. The initial 2,160 doses of the vaccine and treatments have already arrived in Kampala, having been prepositioned as part of outbreak preparedness. Research teams are currently being oriented on trial procedures and logistical arrangements, with deployments already in place to collaborate with surveillance teams.
The vaccine and treatments, which include a monoclonal antibody and an antiviral, are being provided through clinical trial protocols to assess their efficacy and safety. As of January 30, Uganda has reported one confirmed SVD case, with 45 contacts under follow-up. The country has experienced five previous outbreaks of SVD, the most recent occurring between September 2022 and January 2023, resulting in 164 cases and 77 deaths. During that outbreak, WHO convened an expert panel to evaluate candidate vaccines and recommend their suitability for use in Uganda.
WHO is working closely with Uganda’s Ministry of Health, as well as research teams from the Makerere University Lung Institute and the Uganda Virus Research Institute, alongside international experts in filoviruses and regulatory bodies, to expedite vaccine trials. The trials have been structured through a global collaboration involving developers, academic institutions, regulatory authorities, and research organizations from Uganda and other countries at risk.
The primary objective of the vaccine trial is to evaluate its effectiveness in preventing SVD, with the potential to contribute to halting the current outbreak and safeguarding high-risk populations in the future. Those eligible to participate include individuals who have been in close contact with confirmed SVD cases or deceased patients. Study teams will operate in affected areas using a ring vaccination strategy to contain the virus.
The trial implementation is being led by Uganda’s health authorities, in coordination with the Makerere University Lung Institute and the Uganda Virus Research Institute. The research has been developed through the MARVAC Consortium and the Collaborative Open Research Consortium (CORC) for the Filoviridae Family. Key contributors to the availability of the candidate vaccine and treatments include IAVI, which supplied the Sudan virus vaccine candidate, and Gilead, which provided the antiviral remdesivir.
International partners supporting the trials include the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Canada’s International Development Research Centre, the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), and WHO. This rapid response underscores global efforts to enhance research, innovation, and countermeasures against deadly pathogens. While SVD outbreaks can be controlled without vaccines, a safe and effective vaccine could accelerate containment efforts.
Uganda has deployed a comprehensive outbreak response strategy, including contact tracing, epidemiological investigations, and community awareness campaigns. WHO has allocated $1 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support rapid response efforts. Sudan virus disease is a severe, often fatal illness caused by Orthoebolavirus sudanense, a species related to the Ebola virus. Past outbreaks have recorded case fatality rates ranging from 41% to 100%. There are no approved treatments or vaccines for the Sudan virus, though early supportive care has been shown to significantly improve survival rates. – By MENA Newswire News Desk.