First human trial of new experimental Ebola vaccine begins Tuesday Jan 06,2015

The first human trials of a new Ebola vaccine are today Tuesday Jan 06,2015 underway, the latest step in attempts to halt the spread of the virus in West Africa.

Scientists at Oxford University have immunised the first healthy volunteers with a new drug, which they hope will protect people against the disease.

The World Health Organisation said today more than 8,100 people have now lost their lives to the virus, the majority in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

In September 2014 a separate trial was launched at the university, to test the effects of another potential vaccine. 

The Oxford Vaccine Group, part of the University of Oxford Department of Paediatrics, aims to have vaccinated 72 healthy adult volunteers by the end of this month. 

Previous trials showed the vaccine was successful in protecting primates against the Kikwit Zaire strain of Ebola – which is similar to the virus causing the current outbreak in Western Africa.

The new Ebola vaccine is being trialled by the Oxford Vaccine Group.

They aim to have vaccinated 72 healthy adult volunteers, aged 18 - 50, by the end of this month.

The study involves a 'prime-boost' vaccine regime in which volunteers are first given a 'prime' injection to stimulate an initial immune response.

Two months later they are given an additional booster injection, intended to enhance the body's immune response.