UK starts first vaccine trial, eight weeks into Ebola emergency
The UK has approved clinical trials for a new Ebola vaccine developed by the University of Oxford. The vaccine aims to address the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has already claimed over 600 lives.
Why it matters
Rapid vaccine development is essential for containing the Ebola epidemic, which is currently spreading through a volatile conflict zone.
Image source, BBC/Trevor Lloyd Image caption, Researcher Alex Sampson holds the experimental Ebola vaccine
Health and science correspondent Published 13 July 2026, 09:00 BST A new vaccine to tackle Ebola will now be tested on people after the UK regulator gave permission for trials to take place.
Scientists at the University of Oxford started developing the vaccine eight weeks ago when a public health emergency was declared on 17 May.
It is the first - out of four vaccines under development - to enter clinical trials.
Volunteers are being recruited, with the first doses expected to be given to healthy adults in the UK "within weeks".
The Ebola epidemic, centred on the Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed 625 people with 1,792 laboratory confirmed cases.
It is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which has started two outbreaks before.
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