Uganda’s Ministry of Health has said it has launched the first-ever randomized vaccine trial for Ebola from the Sudan species of the virus.
Together with the World Health Organization (WHO), this effort is a significant leap in pandemic preparedness, aimed at combating the deadly Sudan strain of Ebola, which has previously lacked an effective vaccine.
The vaccine trial comes just days after Uganda confirmed an outbreak of the Sudan species of Ebola, which resulted in the death of a nurse in Kampala on January 29, 2025. In total, 44 individuals, including health workers who came into contact with the nurse, are being traced as part of the effort to contain the virus’ spread.
The trial is being conducted by principal investigators from Makerere University and the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), with substantial support from WHO and other global health partners. Remarkably, the trial has been set up in just four days since the outbreak was confirmed on January 30.
In a statement released on February 4, 2025, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, emphasized the tryouts act as a critical achievement towards better pandemic preparedness and saving lives when outbreaks occur.
“This is possible because of the dedication of Uganda’s health workers, the involvement of communities, the Ministry of Health of Uganda, Makerere University and UVRI, and research efforts led by WHO involving hundreds of scientists through our research and development Filo viruses network,” he said.
Dr Mike Ryan, WHO Executive Director of Health Emergencies, emphasized the importance of the rapid vaccine trial.
“This vaccine trial marks a crucial milestone in our collective fight against the Sudan species of Ebola. It is an example of how global collaboration, swift response, and strong research partnerships can provide hope and solutions in the face of emerging health crises,” Mike Ryan said.
The vaccine candidate, donated by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), was developed with financial support from WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Dr Mike Ryan, WHO’s Executive Director of Health Emergencies, and Dr Kasonde Mwinga, WHO Representative to Uganda, were among the WHO representatives present at the vaccine trial launch in Kampala.
They highlighted the significance of this rapid response and stressed the importance of continued global cooperation in combating health crises.
The organization pledged its support to the Ugandan people, noting that the vaccine trial is not just a step forward for Uganda but for the entire global health community in addressing Ebola outbreaks.
As part of the agreement with Uganda’s Ministry of Health, WHO has ensured that additional doses of the candidate vaccine will be available soon in order to meet the needs of the ongoing vaccination campaign.
