Uganda has begun a trial of a vaccine against the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, following a new outbreak that has claimed one life and infected two others. The initial participant in the trial, a 32-year-old nurse, received a dose of the vaccine on Monday.
Developed by the International Aids Vaccine Initiative, the vaccine is currently being tested for its effectiveness against the Sudan strain, which has a mortality rate of over 40%. There is no approved vaccine for this specific strain, although one exists for the Zaire strain that was prevalent in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Symptoms of Ebola infection include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, and internal and external bleeding. The virus is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids and tissues.
This marks a significant milestone in public health emergency response and collaboration among global health authorities. If proven effective, the vaccine will strengthen measures to protect communities from future outbreaks. The trial involves 40 contacts of the first victim and has been jointly conducted with Ugandan authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gp4kqer46o