Uganda Launches Clinical Trial for « Sudan Ebola » Vaccine

On Monday, February 3, 2025, Ugandan authorities launched a clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of a vaccine against the « Sudan Ebola » strain, which recently caused one death following an outbreak in the country.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated in a press release that this is the first trial of its kind to evaluate the vaccine’s effectiveness against this strain, marking a significant step in the fight against the virus.

The study targets healthcare workers and individuals exposed to the virus. This follows the death of a nurse in Kampala, with two additional cases confirmed among her family members. Officials are currently investigating the source of the outbreak.

Ebola spreads through contact with bodily fluids or contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and, in some cases, internal and external bleeding.

Pontiano Kaleebu, the Executive Director of Uganda’s Virus Research Institute, announced that scientists are developing protocols for distributing more than 2,000 doses of the experimental vaccine. He added that regulatory approval processes are being expedited, although the vaccine has not yet been licensed.

The WHO has pledged full support for Uganda’s response, providing 2,160 doses of the experimental vaccine for use in the clinical trial.