Ebola vaccine trial begins in DR Congo

The first clinical vaccine trial during the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo began Friday in Bunia, in Ituri province. The Tumaini trial will test whether Ervebo, approved against the Zaire strain, offers protection against Bundibugyo, the strain driving the outbreak, which has surpassed 9,700 cases and 4,600 deaths. Two Bundibugyo-specific vaccine candidates developed by the University of Oxford and Moderna are expected to join the trial, which will use ring vaccination and include pregnant women and children aged 12 and older.