Chinese scientists have developed a new messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine that could provide long-lasting protection against several dangerous strains of the Ebola virus, marking a significant step forward in efforts to combat the deadly disease.

Ebola is a severe hemorrhagic illness that can cause fever, internal bleeding and organ failure, with mortality rates reaching up to 50%. The virus spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids, while treatment and prevention options remain limited.

According to the World Health Organization, existing vaccines mainly target the Ebola Zaire strain, leaving other strains such as Sudan and Bundibugyo without effective protection.

To address this gap, researchers designed a multi-strain mRNA vaccine that trains the immune system to recognize and fight different Ebola variants. Findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showed strong results in animal testing, including a 100% survival rate in infected mice and significantly reduced viral levels in the blood and organs.

The vaccine also demonstrated long-lasting immunity for nearly 17 months and showed effectiveness against multiple Ebola strains.

Despite the encouraging results, researchers stressed that the vaccine is still in the early experimental stage. Future studies will involve testing on primates before moving to human clinical trials.