Ugandan Scientists Begin Development of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Vaccine

Scientists from the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have initiated a two-year study to develop a vaccine targeting Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a zoonotic disease that affects both humans and animals. The global threat posed by CCHF puts nearly three billion people at risk, yet no licensed vaccine or antiviral treatment currently exists.

The project, launched on Wednesday at Lake Victoria Hotel in Entebbe, is backed by £2 million (over 9 billion UGX) from the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care. Prof. Moffat Nyirenda, director of MRC, emphasized that the study aims to bolster global health security by enhancing preparedness for emerging infectious diseases.

“The study will strengthen ongoing collaborative efforts to optimize the health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment,” Nyirenda said, noting the urgency of tackling this potentially deadly virus.

Leading the research, Asst. Prof. Sheila Balinda, the study’s principal investigator, explained that the vaccine would target infections in both humans and animals, reducing mortality rates, preventing outbreaks, and easing the burden on healthcare systems. Balinda’s team has already identified a viral carrier from chimpanzees and begun developing a vector for the CCHF vaccine. The next phase includes testing the vaccine on animals like monkeys and mice, followed by trials on humans.

UVRI director, Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu, highlighted the importance of this research, stating that CCHF has a mortality rate of between 10% and 40%. Transmitted through ticks or direct contact with infected animals and humans, the disease remains a serious public health threat.

“We have laid a solid foundation with previous clinical trials, which will guide us in developing and testing future vaccines. The success of this trial is crucial for global health,” Kaleebu said.

The research uses a chimpanzee adenovirus platform, originally developed during Uganda’s COVID-19 vaccine efforts. This open system has the potential for broader use in developing vaccines for other infectious diseases.

Key stakeholders from the MRC, UVRI, and other institutions, including policy makers and public health officials, attended the launch event. Dr. Charles Ayume, chair of the Parliamentary Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance, stressed the need for continued dialogue between scientists and policymakers to drive the necessary actions in support of the study.

This collaborative effort includes partners from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Makerere University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Institute of Primate Research in Kenya.