The World Health Organization (WHO) is mobilizing efforts to support the response to a recent outbreak of Sudan virus disease in Uganda. The disease, which belongs to the same family as Ebola virus disease, has been confirmed in one case at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala. WHO is deploying senior public health experts and allocating US$ 1 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to help contain and end the outbreak.
WHO is also coordinating with vaccine developers to deploy candidate vaccines as an addition to other public health measures. While there are no licensed vaccines available, the organization is working to quickly identify cases, isolate patients, and provide care to curb the spread of the virus. Uganda has already experienced five previous outbreaks of Sudan virus disease, with the most recent one reported in 2022.
“We welcome the prompt declaration of this outbreak,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “We are supporting the government and partners to scale up measures to quickly identify cases, isolate and provide care, curb the spread of the virus and protect the population.”
Source: https://www.afro.who.int/countries/uganda/news/who-accelerates-efforts-support-response-sudan-virus-disease-outbreak-uganda