According to Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu, the Executive Director UVRI, they have started sequencing and that they are realizing that in each of the samples tested, the virus resembles that circulating in the country where the specific traveller was coming from.
The Uganda Virus Research
Institute (UVRI) has embarked on studying the strains of Corona Virus that
causes COVID 19.
According to Prof. Pontiano
Kaleebu, the Executive Director UVRI, they have started sequencing and that
they are realizing that in each of the samples tested, the virus resembles that
circulating in the country where specific travelers are coming from.
/// Cue in: “Our team at …
Cue out: …. coming from Asia”. //
Kaleebu notes that they are
also mapping to establish the genetic make-up of the virus and the good news to
him is that there are no critical differences with what is being seen by scientists
elsewhere.
/// Cue in: “The virus
looks ….
Cue out: ….. from other
countries”. //
Already several studies to find an effective vaccine and
treatments such as on chloroquine are underway in many parts of the world and
this means that once these are established to be efficacious, the drugs will be
able to treat cases here.
On Wednesday global drug manufacturers Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) and
Sanofi announced that they are embarking on research for an effective vaccine
which they hope can be available for use next year.
Apart from international researches, Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth
Aceng announced during a news conference on Saturday that over 30 protocols on
COVID -19 interventions by Ugandan researchers have been submitted for
consideration.
