Trials of two new Ebola vaccines to begin in DR Congo

The World Health Organization is to begin clinical trials of two new vaccines against the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where more than 10,500 people have been infected.

The WHO announced a plan on Wednesday to test two vaccine candidates designed for the Bundibugyo virus, a type of Ebola that is causing the outbreak. There are no approved vaccines for the species.

The organization says the trials will be conducted under the approval of the DR Congo government, with the results expected in early 2027.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "Vaccines alone will not end this outbreak, but they could become a powerful new tool for bringing it under control."

Ebola cases have been spreading rapidly in the central African country since May. The WHO says that as of Sunday, more than 5,100 people had died.

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