Initial results of a trial of a vaccine against the deadly Ebola virus have appeared to be 100% successful. Seeing that the experimental drug is quite effective, it is said that it could bring a change in the way the deadly disease is handled.

The trial was of VSV-EBOV vaccine. It was started by the Public Health Agency of Canada and was later developed by the pharmaceutical company Merck. The vaccine comprises of a fragment of the Ebola virus and another safer virus so that the immune system can be trained to beat the Ebola virus.

A clinical trial was carried out in Guinea in which thousands of patients who were exposed by Ebola were given the vaccine right away or after three week. It was found that those who were immediately given the vaccine did not develop the virus.

On the other hand, of those who were given the vaccine after 21 days, 16 of them developed the virus. The World Health Organization said that the vaccine could prove as a game changer, but also affirmed that the topic need more research.

Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, was of the view, "If proven effective, this is going to be a game-changer. It will change the management of the current outbreak and future outbreaks". It is being hoped that there will be a vaccine so that an outbreak of such level cannot take place.