'People recover through medical support' - WHO chief on Ebola outbreak in Uganda, urging strengthened response as 'there is no vaccine'

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'People recover through medical support' - WHO chief on Ebola outbreak in Uganda, urging strengthened response as 'there is no vaccine'

"The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stressed that research into vaccines and treatments remains central to tackling the Ebola outbreak in Uganda at a press scrum during his visit to Kampala on Monday. "Although there is no vaccine and treatment, still, people are recovering through medical support. But of course, we need to expedite also the research on the candidate vaccines and treatments. So one thing that Uganda asked is to take part in this, and there are three vaccine candidates, two monoclonal and two antiviral drugs," Ghebreyesus said. “I know Uganda has excellent institutions; they will take part in expediting the study, and that's how WHO can support in finding, in helping research with one vaccine and treatment,” he continued. The outbreak was declared by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda on May 15 after laboratory tests confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease. WHO named it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17. The strain has raised alarm because there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease. The WHO chief also praised the Ugandan government’s handling of the situation once the virus was identified, noting that its swift action had helped prevent matters from getting worse. "Governments should be in the driver's seat and lead their affairs. And that takes me to what Uganda did from the start. You know, Uganda detected cases imported from DRC as early as possible and declared an emergency on May 15. It was very swift," Ghebreyesus said. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Uganda's response operations and strengthening coordination mechanisms on the ground. As of May 21, WHO reported that the DRC had confirmed 83 cases, including nine deaths, along with 746 suspected cases and 176 suspected deaths. Subsequent reports indicated the toll had risen to more than 900 suspected cases and approximately 220 suspected deaths. Uganda has temporarily closed its border with the DRC, with exceptions for Ebola response teams, humanitarian operations, cargo, food transport and security movements, all subject to strict screening. So far, Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases, including two deaths."

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