Swiss Ebola vaccine trial halted because of side effects
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Geneva (dpa) - Testing of an Ebola vaccine was halted for several weeks in Switzerland after a few trial participants developed symptoms including slight pain, the University Hospitals of Geneva(HUG) said Thursday.
The hospitals' vaccine centre is conducting a clinical trial of the vaccine VSV-ZEBOV, which was developed by Canadian government laboratories and has been licensed to US companies Merck and NewLink.
Of the 59 volunteer test participants, four have developed mild joint pain in their hands and feet.
"Several investigations have been launched to ensure that the symptoms which have been identified are benign and transient," HUG said, adding that testing will resume early next year.
Although several Ebola vaccines and medicines are currently being developed, none has yet completed the testing stage.
David Nabarro, United Nations special envoy on Ebola, told reporters in New York that he was hopeful, however, that vaccines would be available soon.
"We anticipate that if the testing goes well, we will have vaccines available by the middle of next year," Nabarro said.
