The United Kingdom has pledged emergency funding for accelerated vaccine trials after multiple Red Cross volunteers died from Ebola in a fresh outbreak in West Africa. The outbreak, now in its third week, has claimed at least 14 lives, including seven volunteers from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The UK Department of Health and Social Care confirmed a £15 million injection into the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to fast-track a new vaccine candidate currently in phase-1 trials.
The decision follows a COBRA meeting chaired by the Foreign Secretary. The head of the Red Cross in the region described the deaths as a profound loss. The volunteers were part of a burial team that handled infected remains.
The World Health Organisation has classified the outbreak as a grade-2 emergency, meaning it requires a moderate international response. The UK’s funding is intended to compress the vaccine development timeline from an estimated 18 months to six. The vaccine, developed by the Jenner Institute, had been shelved after a prior outbreak waned.
The new strain appears to have a higher viral load and a faster transmission rate, according to initial gene sequencing from the Pasteur Institute. The UK’s Minister of State for Development stated that the deaths were a stark reminder of the cost of inaction. The funding will also cover logistical support for the local health system.
Healthcare workers in the affected region have been issued additional protective equipment. The Red Cross has suspended burials until safer protocols are established. The exact location of the outbreak has not been disclosed to prevent panic.
The UK’s move is seen as an attempt to reassert its role in global health security after criticism of its pandemic preparedness. Vaccine experts have welcomed the funding but cautioned that regulatory hurdles remain. The trial will involve 500 participants across three sites in West Africa.
If successful, the vaccine could be deployed within eight months. The UK’s contribution is part of a broader £50 million package for Ebola preparedness announced earlier this year. The opposition has called for the government to publish regular updates.
The situation remains fluid.
