WHO approves trials for two new Ebola vaccines targeting Bundibugyo virus

The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved clinical trials for two new Ebola vaccines designed specifically for the Bundibugyo virus strain, which has caused over 5,300 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Al Jazeera reported.

The Bundibugyo virus outbreak is the fastest-growing in DRC history, with more than 10,400 confirmed cases and a fatality rate of 50 percent, according to the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Current vaccines, such as the Ervebo vaccine approved for the Zaire strain, are not designed to combat Bundibugyo, prompting the development and trial of new vaccines by the University of Oxford, the Serum Institute of India, and Moderna.

The DRC’s National Institute for Biomedical Research is leading the vaccine trials, supported by WHO and partners, with results expected in early 2027.

WHO emphasized that vaccines are important but not a replacement for established measures like early care, contact tracing, isolation, and community engagement to control the outbreak.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for lifting travel restrictions imposed by some countries, warning they could discourage transparent reporting and hinder the response efforts.