WHO Launches Ebola Vaccine Trial in DR Congo
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has commenced the first clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine during the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus announced this development on his official X handle, following the vaccination of the first participants in Bunia, located in Ituri province.
The trial, named Tumaini, aims to evaluate whether vaccine candidates can protect against the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which currently has no approved vaccine. The first vaccine in the trial is Ervebo, licensed for the Zaire strain, and researchers will investigate its effectiveness against the Bundibugyo strain.
Additional candidates from Moderna and the University of Oxford, in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India, are expected to join the study. The trial will utilize a ring vaccination approach, targeting contacts of confirmed cases and individuals at high risk.
As of October 21, the DRC reported 9,552 cases and 4,602 deaths since the outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026.
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