WHO Steps Up Ebola Response, Prioritises Vaccine Testing Amid Outbreak

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has intensified global efforts to contain the ongoing outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, convening top scientific and advisory groups to urgently evaluate experimental vaccines and therapeutics as cases continue to emerge in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with additional cross-border infections reported in Uganda.

The latest outbreak has raised fresh concerns among international health authorities because the Bundibugyo ebolavirus is one of the less common species of Ebola virus, and currently has no licensed vaccine or approved therapeutic treatment, unlike the more common Zaire ebolavirus for which approved countermeasures exist.

In a statement released after a high-level emergency consultation, WHO said its expert advisory groups concluded that all promising medical countermeasures for Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) should only be deployed within carefully designed clinical trials to ensure scientific evidence generation while maintaining strict safety and ethical standards. (who.int)

The organisation disclosed that the review involved its R&D Blueprint Technical Advisory Group, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE), and WHO’s Ebola Vaccine Working Group, which assessed all available vaccine and treatment candidates for immediate deployment feasibility.

WHO said the current outbreak underscores a major research gap in global preparedness for non-Zaire Ebola strains, particularly the Bundibugyo species, which caused significant outbreaks in Uganda in 2007 and the DRC in 2012, with fatality rates ranging between 25 and 50 per cent, according to historical outbreak data. (cdc.gov)

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For treatment of confirmed infections, independent experts prioritised three investigational therapeutics for immediate clinical trial evaluation.

These include the monoclonal antibody MBP134, Maftivimab®, and the antiviral drug remdesivir, all of which have shown potential antiviral activity against filoviruses in preclinical and limited clinical settings.

The advisory groups also endorsed testing combination therapy involving a monoclonal antibody and remdesivir to determine whether combined treatment could improve survival outcomes.

WHO stressed that none of these interventions should be administered outside structured clinical protocols.

For post-exposure prophylaxis among individuals who have had direct contact with confirmed or probable cases, experts identified the oral antiviral obeldesivir as a priority candidate.

The strategy involves rapidly administering oral tablets to exposed contacts to assess whether infection can be prevented before symptom onset.

However, WHO warned that this approach depends heavily on rapid case detection and effective contact tracing, both of which remain operational challenges in some affected communities due to security concerns and difficult terrain.

On vaccines, WHO identified the single-dose rVSV Bundibugyo vaccine, developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), as the most promising candidate for future trial deployment.

The vaccine is estimated to require seven to nine months before becoming trial-ready.

A second candidate, ChAdOx1 Bundibugyo, developed by the University of Oxford in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India, could be available for efficacy trials within two to three months, pending additional animal safety and immunogenicity data.

Experts said a single-dose vaccination strategy could be suitable for immediate ring vaccination of contacts of infected persons, while a two-dose regimen may be more appropriate for frontline health workers and other high-risk responders.

The panels also reviewed Ervebo, currently the world’s only licensed Ebola vaccine.

Although Ervebo has proven highly effective against Zaire ebolavirus, WHO said there is currently no conclusive evidence that it offers protection against the Bundibugyo strain.

As a result, the organisation advised that Ervebo should not be used outside rigorously controlled research settings specifically designed to evaluate possible cross-protection.

WHO said it is collaborating closely with the governments of the DRC and Uganda, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS), and other global partners to fast-track ethical clinical trial protocols.

The organisation emphasised that all research activities must meet the highest international ethical standards, with affected communities actively involved in decision-making and national authorities maintaining oversight.

WHO also called for accelerated deployment of essential laboratory supplies, stronger surveillance systems, enhanced community engagement, and coordinated international funding to support rapid evaluation of Bundibugyo-specific countermeasures.

Despite the accelerated research push, WHO reiterated that the immediate priority remains containing transmission through established Ebola control measures, including rapid diagnosis, case isolation, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, community education, safe burials, and intensive surveillance.

Health officials warned that while scientific progress offers hope, effective outbreak containment will depend primarily on swift public health action and strong regional cooperation.

WHO Steps Up Ebola Response, Prioritises Vaccine Testing Amid Outbreak

UK Scientists Develop New Ebola Vaccine As Congo Outbreak Triggers Global Health Concern

Scientists at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom are racing to develop a new Ebola vaccine that could be ready within months as the deadly outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to worsen.

The experimental vaccine is specifically targeting the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain, a dangerous species of the virus that currently has no approved vaccine or dedicated treatment.

According to health authorities, the outbreak in Congo has already led to about 750 suspected infections and 177 deaths, while cases have also reportedly spread into neighbouring Uganda, raising fears of wider regional transmission.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has now upgraded the national risk level in Congo from “high” to “very high” and declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, although officials stressed that the situation is not yet considered a pandemic.

Scientists at Oxford University say they are accelerating vaccine development efforts in preparation for a possible escalation of the outbreak.

The vaccine is being developed using the same adaptable ChAdOx1 technology that powered the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine during the coronavirus pandemic.

Researchers explained that the technology uses a harmless modified virus derived from a chimpanzee cold virus to safely deliver genetic instructions to the human immune system.

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This time, scientists inserted genetic material from the Bundibugyo Ebola virus so the immune system can recognise and fight the infection if exposed later.

Experts say the vaccine itself cannot cause Ebola infection or symptoms but is designed to prepare the body’s immune defences against the virus.

Oxford University confirmed that the vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 BDBV, is being developed in partnership with the Serum Institute of India, one of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturers.

The Serum Institute is expected to mass-produce doses once Oxford scientists provide medical-grade materials for manufacturing.

Animal testing is already underway in Oxford as researchers simultaneously prepare for possible human clinical trials.

According to the WHO, the vaccine could be ready for early clinical testing within two to three months if development progresses successfully.

Professor Teresa Lambe, Calleva Head of Vaccine Immunology at the Oxford Vaccine Group, said scientists are moving quickly while still maintaining scientific and ethical standards.

“My hope is that this outbreak can be brought under control quickly and that vaccines are ultimately not needed. Nevertheless, our team and partners will continue working to ensure that potential vaccine options are available if they are needed,” she said.

Lambe also stressed the importance of preparing for the worst-case scenario.

“People are worried about this outbreak. Hopefully, contact tracing and quarantine will be enough, but we cannot take our foot off the gas,” she added.

Health experts say the Bundibugyo Ebola strain kills between 30 and 40 percent of infected patients, making it particularly dangerous because no licensed vaccine currently exists for it.

The virus was first identified in Uganda’s Bundibugyo district in 2007 before resurfacing in Congo years later.

Symptoms of Ebola include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, bleeding and organ failure in severe cases.

In addition to vaccine development, global health authorities are intensifying contact tracing, isolation measures and public awareness campaigns to prevent further spread of the disease.

The outbreak has reignited international concerns over emerging infectious diseases and the need for rapid vaccine production capabilities following lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

UK Scientists Develop New Ebola Vaccine As Congo Outbreak Triggers Global Health Concern

WHO Declares Ebola Emergency In Congo, Uganda As Death Toll Hits 139

The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved an additional $3.4 million to strengthen emergency response efforts against the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, as the suspected death toll climbed to 139.

The fresh funding raises WHO’s total emergency allocation for the outbreak to $3.9 million, amid growing fears of wider regional spread across Central and East Africa.

Speaking during a media briefing in Geneva on Wednesday, WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced that the UN health agency has officially classified the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations.

According to Tedros, the declaration followed consultations with authorities in both countries and was necessary to accelerate global mobilisation, funding, and international coordination to contain the deadly virus.

He explained that WHO decided to act swiftly because any delay could worsen transmission, increase fatalities, and heighten the risk of cross-border infections.

Already, WHO estimates show that nearly 600 suspected Ebola cases have been identified, while the suspected death toll has risen to 139.

Official data from the health agency confirmed that the DRC has recorded 51 laboratory-confirmed Ebola infections, mainly in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, including the cities of Bunia and Goma.

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In neighbouring Uganda, authorities confirmed two infections in Kampala, one of which resulted in death after cross-border transmission linked to the DRC outbreak.

WHO also disclosed that a United States citizen infected while working in the DRC had been evacuated to Germany for specialised treatment.

Health officials warned that the actual scale of the outbreak could be significantly higher because the virus may have circulated undetected for several weeks before confirmation.

The outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, first identified in Uganda in 2007. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, there are currently no approved vaccines or specific treatments for the Bundibugyo variant, complicating containment efforts.

Tedros noted that the outbreak has now spread into multiple urban centres, increasing fears of sustained community transmission.

He added that infections among healthcare workers indicate ongoing spread within medical facilities, with several frontline workers reportedly among the fatalities already recorded.

The WHO chief further expressed concern over worsening insecurity and displacement in eastern DRC, particularly in Ituri Province, where renewed violence since late 2025 has displaced more than 100,000 people.

According to him, the movement of displaced persons, cross-border trade, and mining activities are increasing the likelihood of regional transmission.

Concerns deepened after Congolese authorities confirmed a new Ebola case in South Kivu Province, far from the original epicentre of the outbreak, suggesting the virus may already be spreading across wider geographical areas.

International health agencies and humanitarian organisations have also raised alarm over weakened outbreak preparedness caused by years of funding shortages and cuts to foreign aid programmes.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) said scientists are accelerating efforts to develop a vaccine candidate for the Bundibugyo strain, although experts caution that producing an effective vaccine during an active outbreak remains difficult.

Tedros commended the governments of the DRC and Uganda for cooperating with response efforts, including Uganda’s decision to suspend the annual Martyrs’ Day celebrations, which usually attract millions of pilgrims.

WHO said emergency teams, laboratory equipment, medical supplies, and technical experts have already been deployed to affected areas to support surveillance, treatment, contact tracing, and safe burial operations.

While the organisation currently assesses the global risk level as low, it warned that the regional threat remains high and urged neighbouring countries to intensify border surveillance and preparedness measures.

WHO Declares Ebola Emergency In Congo, Uganda As Death Toll Hits 139