A highly contagious strain of Ebola has infected seven people in Uganda, claiming two lives. The outbreak is the first since 2022, when at least 164 people were infected and 55 died.
The patient, a 32-year-old male nurse, visited multiple healthcare facilities after developing fever-like symptoms. He later died from the Sudan strain of Ebola, with his wife becoming the second victim. At least 298 people who came into contact with the couple are now being traced.
A new experimental vaccine targeting the Sudan variant is set to be administered to 40 individuals as part of a clinical trial. The WHO has launched the effort, which began on Monday, in response to the outbreak’s rapid spread.
The Sudan strain is more contagious than other Ebola variants but less deadly, with a fatality rate of 40-60%. Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and tissues, as well as contact with sick or dead wild animals. Symptoms can appear within two to 21 days after infection, with initial symptoms including high fever, muscle pain, and vomiting.
The WHO has declared the global risk from the outbreak “low”, but health workers and others exposed to the strain are being targeted in the trial. The recent Marburg outbreak in Tanzania, which killed nine people, highlights the ongoing threat of Ebola-like diseases.
Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/33249870/highly-contagious-ebola-strain-deadly-cousin-vaccine