Inside Kampala’s bustling medical district, scientists are racing against time to deploy an experimental vaccine following a nurse’s death from the Sudan strain of Ebola. This development marks a critical moment in Uganda’s ongoing battle against the virus, which has repeatedly tested the nation’s healthcare system.
The Uganda Virus Research Institute stands at the forefront of this urgent response, preparing to roll out over 2,000 doses of an unlicensed vaccine. Dr. Pontiano Kaleebu, the institute’s executive director, explains that while regulatory approvals are being fast-tracked, the process demands meticulous attention to safety protocols.
This outbreak’s timing proves particularly challenging for Kampala’s four million residents, where the deceased nurse’s movements through multiple healthcare facilities and traditional healing centers have created a complex web of potential exposure. Health authorities have identified 44 contacts, including 30 healthcare workers and patients.
The situation echoes Uganda’s past encounters with Ebola, including the devastating 2022 outbreak that claimed 55 lives. That episode ended before scientists could initiate planned vaccine trials, leaving valuable research opportunities unrealized. Now, with Tanzania simultaneously battling Marburg disease and memories of West Africa’s 11,000 Ebola deaths still fresh, regional health systems face mounting pressure.
As research teams deploy alongside surveillance units, Uganda’s response highlights the delicate balance between urgent action and scientific rigor in public health emergencies.
