Congo-Kinshasa: New Ebola Vaccine Trial Launches As Outbreak Spreads in DR Congo
[UN News] Results may be months away, but efforts are advancing towards enhanced treatment and the world's first vaccine for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday as deaths and cases rise in the largest ever outbreak on record in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is currently experiencing the largest Ebola outbreak on record, with increasing numbers of cases and deaths. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday that a new vaccine trial for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola has begun. While results may not be available for several months, efforts are being made to develop enhanced treatment and the world's first vaccine for this particular strain.
The vaccine trials are being conducted in the United Kingdom and Canada, with ferrets and monkeys serving as test subjects. Additionally, a clinical trial of a potential post-exposure prophylaxis is underway in DRC's Ituri province, involving over 25 patients. This trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an oral medicine given over 10 days to confirmed high-risk contacts.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
