Launch of trial to evaluate Ebola vaccines
The World Health Organization announced a clinical trial to evaluate Bundibugyo Ebola vaccines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, led by the National Institute of Biomedical Research
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
Geneva – KUNA – The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the launch of a clinical trial to evaluate vaccines against the Bundibugyo subtype of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, aiming to determine their effectiveness in preventing infection and limiting the spread of the virus.
This announcement came during a press conference held in Geneva, where Dr. Meg Doherty, WHO’s technical lead for vaccine trials, spoke via video link from Bunia, the capital of the Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Dr. Doherty stated that the trial, which began a few days ago, is led by the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and managed by the National Institute of Biomedical Research in collaboration with local and international researchers.
She explained that the trial allows for the evaluation of one or several vaccines within a unified research framework, employing a ring vaccination approach that targets individuals in contact with confirmed cases, thereby helping to assess the vaccines’ ability to prevent infection.
She added that Ervebo is the first vaccine to be evaluated in the trial due to its availability in the country, noting that while its efficacy against the Zaire subtype of the Ebola virus has been proven, its ability to prevent infection by the Bundibugyo subtype remains unknown.
