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

WHO Declares Ebola Emergency as Nigeria Activates Nationwide Monitoring

The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has intensified nationwide surveillance and emergency preparedness measures following the deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighbouring Uganda.

The development comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC), raising fears of wider regional spread across Africa.

According to the WHO, the outbreak has already resulted in dozens of deaths and hundreds of suspected infections, particularly in eastern DRC’s Ituri Province, where health authorities are battling the rare and dangerous Bundibugyo strain of the virus.

The strain is considered especially concerning because there is currently no approved vaccine or targeted treatment for it.

Although Nigeria has not recorded any confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case, the NCDC said it is proactively strengthening monitoring systems at airports, land borders, seaports, and health facilities across the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Director-General of the NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, said the agency was working closely with the Port Health Services and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to prevent any possible importation of the virus into Nigeria.

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“NCDC is closely monitoring the situation and working with relevant stakeholders, including the Port Health Services, to ensure continued vigilance and preparedness within the public health system,” Idris stated.

The agency disclosed that it has increased laboratory readiness, intensified disease surveillance, improved infection prevention measures, and expanded public awareness campaigns nationwide.

Health workers across Nigeria have also been placed on alert and advised to maintain a high level of suspicion for patients showing symptoms linked to Ebola virus infection, especially those with recent travel history to affected countries.

The WHO confirmed that the outbreak, which started in the DRC, has now spread beyond the country’s borders, with Uganda recording imported laboratory-confirmed cases.

Ugandan authorities revealed that a 59-year-old man who recently travelled from Congo tested positive for the virus before later dying from complications linked to the disease.

The UN health agency said the outbreak currently affects several areas, including Bunia, Mongbwalu, and Rwampara in the DRC, while one confirmed case has also been detected in Kinshasa, the Congolese capital.

Health officials fear the disease could spread further because the affected regions are major commercial and migration corridors connecting neighbouring countries.

The WHO warned that insecurity, population displacement, illegal mining activities, and weak healthcare systems in eastern Congo may complicate containment efforts.

Medical experts say the Bundibugyo strain differs from the more common Zaire strain responsible for previous major Ebola outbreaks in West Africa.

Unlike the Zaire strain, which now has approved vaccines and treatment options, scientists are still researching effective vaccines and therapies for the Bundibugyo variant.

The WHO said early symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease include fever, severe weakness, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat.

As the illness progresses, patients may experience vomiting, diarrhoea, skin rash, internal bleeding, and organ failure.

The virus spreads through direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, contaminated materials, or infected animals.

Nigeria’s renewed preparedness is partly influenced by its experience during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when the country successfully prevented a major public health disaster after an infected Liberian-American traveller, Patrick Sawyer, arrived in Lagos.

Through aggressive contact tracing, rapid isolation, emergency response coordination, and public sensitisation, Nigeria was able to contain the virus within months.

The successful response earned global praise from the WHO and public health experts worldwide.

The NCDC urged Nigerians not to panic but to remain vigilant and practice proper hygiene measures.

Citizens were advised to wash their hands regularly, avoid contact with sick individuals or bodily fluids, and promptly report unusual illnesses to the nearest health facility.

The agency also warned against spreading false information capable of causing public panic.

“NCDC will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary,” the agency said.

Meanwhile, the WHO clarified that although the outbreak represents a serious international health concern, it has not yet met the threshold required for classification as a global pandemic.

The organisation also advised countries against imposing travel bans or border closures, insisting that coordinated surveillance, rapid testing, and effective public health response remain the best containment strategies.

WHO Declares Ebola Emergency as Nigeria Activates Nationwide Monitoring