WHO Urges Ervebo Vaccine Trial in DR Congo Ebola Outbreak
The World Health Organization is recommending a clinical trial of the Ervebo vaccine in the Democratic Republic of Congo to combat a Bundibugyo Ebola strain outbreak. Early data suggests the vaccine may provide cross-protection against this specific strain, which has caused over 1,800 fatalities.
Why it matters
This trial is critical for containing a deadly, fast-spreading virus and determining if existing medical resources can be repurposed for new variants.
WHO vaccine experts on Friday recommended a full-scale human trial of the only existing approved Ebola vaccine to see if it offers cross-protection against a deadly strain spreading in the DR Congo.
The Ervebo vaccine has proved safe and efficacious against the more common Zaire strain of Ebola virus, and World Health Organization experts said early data, notably from animal trials, showed it may also give some protection against the rare Bundibugyo strain exploding in the DRC.
The recommendation came as the number of confirmed cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo went past the 4,000 mark, now standing at 4,053, including 1,850 fatalities, said AFP.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned again Friday that the virus was spreading faster than response efforts can catch up.
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