World's first Ebola vaccine approved by the EU

European drug regulators on Friday, 18th October approved the first Ebola vaccine.

This move has been hailed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a major feat in scientific research.

Developed by United States drug maker Merck & Co, the vaccine is already being used under emergency guidelines to try to protect people against the spread of a deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, in a statement on Thursday, said; 

This vaccine has already saved many lives in the current Ebola outbreak, and the decision by European regulator will help it to eventually save many more.

Over 2,100 people have been killed by Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the middle of last year.

This is the second largest Ebola outbreak in history, after a 2013-16 epidemic in West Africa that killed more than 11,300.

The Merck vaccine, which the company has now brand-named Ervebo, is likely to get a full marketing licence from the European Commission within a few weeks, Reuters said in a report.

Merck said in a statement its priority now was to get regulatory approval of its Ervebo manufacturing site in Germany so that licensed supply of the vaccine “can be used to support global public health preparedness”.

The deadly virus known for causing hemorrhagic fever and can be spread through direct contact of bodily fluids and has killed over half of those infected.