In the United Kingdom, scientists have launched the first human trial of an experimental new vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, representing a key step forward in combating the current outbreak in the DRC and Uganda.
The new candidate vaccine began clinical trials only eight weeks after researchers started working on its development, making it one of the fastest vaccine programs on record. Researchers at the University of Oxford will test the safety and immune response of the ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine in the BD-Ebov trial among 50 healthy individuals aged between 18 and 55 years.
Bundibugyo ebolavirus is the target, a rare but deadly strain of Ebola for which no approved vaccine currently exists.
Related News: Hadi Sirika Pays Tribute to Buhari, Says Commitment to Ordinary Nigerians Defined His Legacy
According to the scientists, an existing vaccine developed using the ChAdOx1 viral vector technology for other infectious diseases was adapted to create the candidate Ebola vaccine, accelerating progress to the clinic without cutting corners on safety.
The work received support from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and global partners working to speed up the development of medical countermeasures for emerging infectious diseases.
Health officials have identified an intensifying outbreak of Bundibugyo Ebola in Central Africa and, with no available vaccine, are struggling to contain a disease which has infected thousands of people.
Related News: Kiekie Explains Why She Avoids Collaborating with Some Colleagues
The University of Oxford researchers said that although the pace of development has been remarkable, the new vaccine must still pass through standard clinical stages of assessment to gauge its safety and effectiveness before it can be considered for use in the population and if successful will continue to be tested against the specific strain of Ebola in affected regions during an outbreak scenario.
Health officials have cheered the vaccine as an example of the strengthened international capacity to respond quickly to new diseases that came about as a result of experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic but warned that this alone will not end the epidemic, underscoring the continued significance of the existing public health response tools.
Related News: Troops Repel ISWAP Attack in Borno, Recover Camcorder Revealing Foreign Terrorist Network
The vaccine could be the first to target the Bundibugyo Ebola strain and a major advancement toward better preparing for future epidemics in Africa and around the world.
