Vaccines have been designed against the Bundibugyo virus which has killed more than 5,300 people in DR Congo.
Published on November 4, 2026
The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved clinical trials of two new Ebola vaccines, as doctors struggle to control the largest outbreak in the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
On Monday, WHO expert panels recommended adding two vaccine trials designed to combat the Bundibugyo strain, which has killed more than 5,300 people, most in the DRC, since May.
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Public health agencies have struggled to contain the Bundibugyo virus, which has a 50 percent mortality rate due to the lack of a vaccine or treatments designed specifically for the strain.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a trial that began last month used the Ervebo vaccine, which has been approved for the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus but is not designed for Bundibugyo.
Tedros said the new vaccines being tested are specifically designed for the Bundibugyo virus. Results of the vaccine trial are expected in early 2027, the WHO reported.
The DRC’s National Institute of Biomedical Research is leading the trial, supported by WHO and other partners, Tedros said. The vaccine was developed by the University of Oxford in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India and Moderna.
“Vaccines are powerful tools, but they do not replace the proven measures that can save lives today: early care, contact tracing, isolation, safe and dignified burials, and trusted engagement with communities,” he added.
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 10,444 cases of Bundibugyo virus have been confirmed, making it the fastest growing outbreak in the DRC’s history.
In Kenya, nine cases have been reported, including two deaths. One case has been confirmed in Nigeria, according to the WHO.
Tedros urged the lifting of travel restrictions imposed by some countries, warning that they could discourage information transparency.
“Such restrictions punish countries that do the right thing, discourage transparency and harm the response,” Tedros said.
The WHO said it was helping all countries neighboring the DRC prepare for the spread of cases across borders.
Meanwhile, a British healthcare worker infected with Ebola is being evacuated from the DRC to the UK to receive specialist treatment, a UK government spokesperson said.
In a statement, the government said the patient is in a stable condition and is expected to arrive in the UK by Thursday and then be transferred to a high-consequence infectious disease unit.
The risk of Ebola to the British public remains “low”, the statement said.
Gn Health
