[ad_1]
The Ugandan Ministry of Health, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), has begun vaccinating front-line health workers against Ebola. The exercise began Wednesday in the Ntoroko district and will initially be implemented in the five high-risk districts (Bundibugyo, Kabarole, Kasese, Ntoroko and Bunyangabu) bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
A total of 2,100 doses of the "rVSV-Ebola" vaccine will be administered to health workers to protect them against the type of Ebola virus strain currently circulating in parts of the DRC. Indeed, this particular vaccine is currently administered in the DRC and demonstrates positive protection results and efficacy against the type of Ebola-Zaire virus.
The Ebola finger test receives the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization
By vaccinating front-line health workers against Ebola virus disease even before Uganda detects a single case, health officials are cautious because they have learned the bitter lessons from previous outbreaks. A number of health workers, including the famous Dr. Mathew Lukwiya, contracted the disease and died while they were treating patients with EVD. These could have been saved if a vaccine had been available at that time.
Although the "rVSV-Ebola" vaccine is not commercially licensed, it is used as part of "expanded access" or so-called "compassionate use" in the current Ebola outbreak. , in the DRC. This vaccine was also used during the Ebola epidemic in Ecuador in May-July 2018. In 2015, the vaccine was administered to more than 16,000 volunteers participating in several studies in Africa, Europe and other countries. in the United States, where it has proven safe and protective. against the Ebola virus.
Several studies have shown that the vaccine is safe and protects against the Ebola virus, but further scientific research is needed before a license can be obtained. The vaccine is therefore used for humanitarian purposes to protect those most at risk from the Ebola outbreak, as part of a "ring vaccination" strategy similar to that used to eradicate smallpox. In this strategy, people to be vaccinated must give their written and informed consent, which could limit the media coverage of the exercise.
It is very likely that Uganda will be able to import the Ebola virus from the DRC because of the proximity of the current epicenter, large population movements due to trade, socio-cultural links and ease of access to health services in Uganda.
The Ugandan Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, believes that the delivery of Ebola vaccine to front-line health workers is the missing link in the country's efforts to prepare and prepare for the Ebola virus. She also explains that the vaccine is only available to front-line health workers who are at high risk of getting Ebola in the management of suspected cases.
"Therefore, the vaccine is not available to the general population at this stage. It is a targeted vaccination, "said Dr. Aceng.
The current situation with the Ebola virus epidemic in the DRC shows a A total of 319 cases of haemorrhagic fever were reported in the region, of which 284 confirmed and 35 probable, making the epidemic the largest in the country's history.
According to the Minister of Health of the DRC, "On Friday, November 9, 2018, the Ebola outbreak in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri had surpassed that of the first outbreak recorded in 1976 in Yambuku. the province of Ecuador. To date, 319 cases and 233 deaths have been recorded. "
Source link
