Kinshasa, October 26
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) have announced the start of a trial of a new vaccine in an effort to contain the spread of Ebola.
The trial will assess the vaccine’s safety and efficacy and identify the groups for whom it may be suitable for use.
Potential side effects will also be monitored throughout the different stages of the trial. Experts have clarified that the start of a trial does not mean the vaccine has been approved for general use or that its efficacy has already been proven. Data collected during the various phases of clinical studies must be analysed before conclusions can be drawn about its effectiveness.
Health authorities are continuing efforts to identify and monitor infections, isolate patients, trace their contacts and conduct public awareness campaigns. These measures are considered important for containing the spread of the virus. Authorities are also working to provide frontline health workers with the necessary supplies.
DR Congo declared an Ebola outbreak in mid-May this year. Ebola is a highly deadly disease that has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years.
The vaccine trial is being viewed as an important step in ongoing efforts to contain the outbreak.
—RSS/QNA
