Clinical trials for Canadian-developed Ebola vaccine to start

The first human clinical trials of a Canadian-developed Ebola vaccine will start Monday.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says the tests, which will take place in the United States, will look at whether the vaccine is safe to use on humans.

Canada most recently set up Ebola screening at 6 airports to prevent passengers with the virus from entering the country.

Minister of Health Rona Ambrose says the risk of Canadians getting infected still remain low.

“Canadians need to know there are no direct flights from those affected countries to Canada. There are also only 30 people that come into Canada through those means and other connecting flights from West Africa. So 30 people a week, which is quite low. We have more than adequate border measures to deal with that.”

The Ebola virus has killed more than 4000 people, mainly in West Africa.

There have been three positive cases outside of that region, most recently a healthcare worker in Texas.

Ambrose expects results from the vaccine trial by December.