News: Experimental Ebola vaccine suspended after volunteers suffered THIS

A trial testing an experimental Ebola vaccine has been paused amid concerns over potential side-effects.

The decision to pause the Swiss clinical trial at the University of Geneva was taken after four volunteers reported suffering joint pain in their hands and feet.

The hospital said the move is a 'precautionary measure', after the volunteers had the injection 10 to 15 days earlier. 

The Geneva researchers reported on December 2 that the first people vaccinated with the experimental drug had experienced no serious side effects, with a few suffering a mild fever.

But today, the hospital said the four patients had suffered joint pain, which lasted a few days. 

Scientists are racing to develop vaccines to combat the deadly virus, which has killed more than 6,300 people - the majority in the West African nations, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.

Experts believe millions of doses of vaccine may be needed to bring this, the worst Ebola outbreak in history, to an end and contain future epidemics.

The global vaccines alliance, GAVI, has today committed up to $300 million to buy any future vaccines.