World Health Organization chief
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday that clinical trials could start
within weeks on vaccines to combat the strain of Ebola behind a deadly outbreak
in Uganda.
اضافة اعلان
Kampala last month announced Uganda's first fatality from the highly
contagious disease since 2019, with a statement issued by the WHO saying there
were 54 confirmed cases and 19 deaths.
Ugandan Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng told AFP that one fatal case had
been recorded in Kampala after the victim fled the central district of Mubende
where the outbreak was first reported, and later died in a capital hospital.
There is currently no vaccine for the Sudan ebola virus circulating in the East
African country.
"Unfortunately, the Ebola vaccines that have been so effective in
controlling recent outbreaks in DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) are not
effective against the type of ebola virus which is responsible for the
current outbreak in Uganda," Tedros told a regional ministerial meeting to
discuss the emergency response to the crisis.
"Several vaccines are in various stages of development against this
virus, two of which could begin clinical trials in Uganda in the coming weeks,
pending regulatory and ethics approvals from the Ugandan government."
The initial outbreak, which was first reported on September 20, and
infections have been found in five areas including Mubende, according to WHO.
"Our primary focus now is to support the government of Uganda to
rapidly control and contain this outbreak, to stop it spreading to neighbouring
districts, and neighbouring countries," Tedros told reporters.
A WHO assessment has found the risk of the Sudan ebola virus spreading to
neighbouring countries was "high due to cross border movements between
Uganda and other countries".
Ebola is an often-fatal viral haemorrhagic fever named after a river in DR
Congo where it was discovered in 1976.
Human transmission is through bodily fluids, with common symptoms fever,
vomiting, bleeding and diarrhoea. Outbreaks are difficult to contain,
especially in urban environments.
People who are infected do not become contagious until symptoms appear,
which is after an incubation period of between two and 21 days.
The worst epidemic in West Africa between 2013 and 2016 killed more than
11,300 people.
Uganda has experienced several Ebola outbreaks, most recently in 2019 when
at least five people died.
The neighbouring DRC has had more than a dozen epidemics, the deadliest killing
2,280 people in 2020. Late last month it declared an end to an Ebola
outbreak that had emerged in the eastern province of North Kivu six weeks
previously.
Last week the United States announced tighter screening for people who had
travelled to Uganda.
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