The vaccine which uses a modified virus to trigger the immune the system had been reported to be effective against COVID-19 after it was given to six rhesus macque monkeys. Previous trials showed that it was safe hence its advancement to large scale human trials.
The sample belongs to a 27 year old truck driver from Kenya who entered the country through the Busia border crossing. This brings the country's cases to 98
Prof Pontiano Kaleebi, the Executive Director Uganda Virus Research Institute told URN in an interview that they are not sure when the trucks will deploy the trucks since the procurement of the PCR machines might take some time.
The confirmed case is among the 169 people tested on Sunday by the Uganda Virus Research Institute-UVRI, according to the ministry of health. The Health Minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, said while Uganda had registered one more case, the release of four patients from Entebbe is good news.
Dr Ian Clarke the chairman of the International Medical Group told Uganda Radio Network on Friday that the ministry had already indicated this to them as private providers but said involving them will depend on the number of kits procured because they will need to supply public facilities first.
At Baylor Uganda, an entity that focuses on HIV in children, Dr. Sabrina Kitaka a senior pediatrician told Uganda Radio Network this morning that clients have been given refills to last them 90 days in order to minimize patient – doctor contact.
The antibody test is very effective because it can detect the virus even in mild infection where the virus can be easily missed and mistaken for the common cold by the widely used Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) being used currently to detect the germ in the nose or throat swabs.
The samples of the 43-year-old man were on Wednesday taken to the Uganda Virus Research Institute-UVRI in Entebbe. This was after he presented himself to the hospital with symptoms similar to coronavirus.
HIV drug Lopinavir, discontinued malaria drug Chloroquine and the Ebola drug Remdesivir are among the treatments scientists are considering to nip corona virus (COVID-19) in the bud but researcher Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu says the world will have to wait longer to get effective treatment.
Musenero who was appointed senior presidential advisor on epidemics on Monday says there are a lot of myths around infection with COVID which have sent the public into unnecessary panic. She clarified that even as everybody is jumping on the sanitizer bandwagon leading to their prices skyrocketing, using just usual soap and water in addition to avoiding touching the nose, mouth and eyes is sufficient enough.
The five-year-old boy was among millions of children who were immunized with the Measles and Rubella joint vaccine that has since been introduced into the country’s immunization schedule. But he, and his siblings developed a skin rash and red eyes, which, according to family members, was in reaction to the vaccine.
A total of 350 frontline and health workers enrolled for the trials taking place in Mbarara. 150 of those who enrolled have received the two doses of the vaccine with minimal side effects reported according to the lead investigator of the trial, Prof Pontiano Kaleebu
Catherine Nakagiri Kisekka, the Assistant Principal Nursing Officer at Kitovu Hospital, says they have received the test results from UVRI showing that the deceased didn’t succumb to Ebola or any other hemorrhagic fever.
