First person gets new experimental vaccine for Bundibugyo species of Ebola
The first human volunteer has received an experimental vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, developed by researchers at the University of Oxford. This phase one trial aims to assess the safety and immune response of the vaccine, which uses technology similar to the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid jab.
Why it matters
Represents a critical step in addressing a specific, deadly strain of Ebola for which no currently licensed vaccine exists.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Fergus Walsh Medical editor BBC Ed Hunt receiving the Ebola vaccine in Oxford The first volunteer in the world - a 37-year-old UK man called Ed Hunt - has received an experimental vaccine against the Ebola virus.
Hunt said he wanted to help after seeing news reports of the deadly Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo.
The vaccine, designed using the same technology as one of the UK's Covid vaccines, was given in Oxford where scientists developed it in just eight weeks.
Hunt is the first of 50 healthy volunteers aged 18-55 being recruited for the trial.
He told the BBC what motivated him to take part: "I had wanted to volunteer for the Covid vaccine trial but was unable to because of work commitments. After seeing news from DR Congo I thought I'd like to do my bit."
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