"We believe that the world is on the verge of an efficacious Ebola vaccine," Kieny said at a press briefing.
She specified that the VSV-EBOV vaccine, developed by Canada’s Public Health Agency, has proven to be 100-percent effective among 2,014 vaccinated patients over a 10-day period.
Up to 16 patients in the study’s 2,380-strong control group later developed Ebola, Kieny continued.
"This analysis translates into a protection of 100 percent so far… It is likely that the true result lies between 75 and 100 percent," the WHO assistant director said.
The March-July 2015 clinical trials took place in Guinea, where the current Ebola epidemic was first registered in December 2013.
The 2014-2015 outbreak of the Ebola hemorrhagic disease has led to an estimated 11,300 deaths worldwide, with a number of West African nations worst hit.
Kieny said the second phase in the study entails vaccinating adolescents and children, but said the latest findings would help prevent another major Ebola outbreak.
The VSV-EBOV vaccine is licensed to NewLink Genetics and Merck Vaccines corporations.
