World Health Organization experts call for trials of potential Ebola vaccines and treatments

The World Health Organization said on Thursday that its expert advisory groups had recommended clinical trials for vaccines and treatments that could help combat the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.

No approved vaccine or treatment currently exists for the strain behind the deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In response to the outbreak, the WHO convened expert panels to assess potential vaccines and therapeutics for preventing and treating the Bundibugyo strain. The groups reviewed several products considered promising enough to be prioritised for human clinical trials.

The UN health agency said all identified products should be used “exclusively within clinical trials to generate robust data and ensure safe, ethical, and effective research”.

The WHO added that it would work closely with the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring Uganda, which has also reported cases, to support evaluation of the candidate treatments and vaccines.

Potential treatments include two monoclonal antibodies and one antiviral drug, while an oral antiviral has been identified for post-exposure prophylaxis. Two candidate vaccines were also recommended for prevention, although neither is yet ready for clinical trials.

“In the meantime, our priority is to stop transmission with tools that we have used for decades of Ebola responses,” the WHO said, citing surveillance, rapid testing, contact tracing, patient isolation and care, infection control, community engagement, and safe burials as key measures.