Health
New Ebola vaccine candidates join DRC’s multi‑vaccine trial amid expanding outbreak
With more than 10,500 confirmed Bundibugyo Ebola cases and over 5,000 deaths, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has added two experimental vaccines to its Tumaini trial, expanding the ring‑vaccination effort in Ituri province.
American Impact Alliance News Desk2 minute read
Bundibugyo outbreak reaches historic scale
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been confronting a Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak for nearly six months, making it the largest such event in the country’s history. As of 1 November, health authorities reported more than 10,500 confirmed infections and 5,126 deaths. The disease, caused by a rare strain of the Ebola virus, continues to spread in the eastern city of Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, which remains the epicentre of transmission. The significant scale of the crisis has prompted intensified international coordination and a push for new medical tools.
Multi‑vaccine trial expands with new candidates
The World Health Organization’s Tumaini trial, launched on 23 October, now incorporates two additional vaccine candidates after a recommendation from its Technical Advisory Group on Candidate Vaccines Prioritization. The first, ChAdOx1, was co‑developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, while the second, mRNA‑1469, originates from the U.S. biotech firm Moderna. Both candidates have received national approvals and will be evaluated alongside the existing Ervebo vaccine, which is being tested for cross‑protection against the Bundibugyo strain. WHO officials stress that these vaccines could become powerful tools, though they are not a standalone solution.
Ring‑vaccination strategy and next steps
Tumaini employs a ring‑vaccination approach that targets contacts of confirmed cases, a method first deployed during the West Africa Ebola outbreak a decade ago and shown to be effective in Guinea. Four vaccination rings are already operational in Ituri, with additional rings being prepared as the trial progresses. The design allows multiple vaccine candidates to be assessed within the same outbreak setting, accelerating data collection on safety and efficacy. WHO and partner agencies continue to support the trial while also advancing ongoing research on other potential treatments, aiming to curb transmission and reduce mortality.