Health · Public Health & Disease · 3 hrs ago
Ebola vaccine trial begins in DR Congo
The Tumaini Ebola vaccine trial has begun in Bunia, in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province, the centre of the outbreak.
The trial is testing Ervebo, a vaccine approved for a different Ebola strain, to see whether it offers protection against the Bundibugyo virus causing the outbreak.
DR Congo has reported more than 9,700 cases and over 4,600 deaths in its worst-ever Ebola outbreak.
There are no approved vaccines or treatments for Bundibugyo Ebola, making evidence about protection especially important.
The trial will use ring vaccination, offering shots to people considered at high risk after contact with a case.
It is also expected to test two candidate vaccines developed by Oxford and Moderna, and will include pregnant women and children aged 12 and older.
Researchers will assess whether the vaccines protect people at risk, with findings intended to guide the response and help prepare for future outbreaks.
The first clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine during the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo began on October 23.
The Tumaini trial began with Ervebo vaccinations in Bunia, in Ituri province, to test whether it offers protection against the Bundibugyo strain.
The outbreak has passed 9,700 cases and 4,600 deaths, according to the articles.
Two vaccines designed specifically for Bundibugyo are in earlier-stage trials and are expected to join Tumaini.
The trial will use ring vaccination and include pregnant women and children aged 12 years and older.
- Who
- The Democratic Republic of Congo is leading the trial with support from the World Health Organization.
- What
- The Tumaini clinical trial is testing Ervebo for possible cross-protection against the Bundibugyo strain. It is also designed to test other vaccine candidates.
- When
- It began on October 23, 2026.
- Where
- Bunia, in Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Why
- There are no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo species causing the outbreak. The trial aims to determine whether vaccines can protect people at risk.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Democratic Republic of Congo declared its 17th Ebola outbreak.
The WHO triggered a public health emergency of international concern.
The first participants received Ervebo in Bunia as the Tumaini trial began.
- Cases
- More than 9,700
- Deaths in outbreak
- More than 4,600
- Trial name
- Tumaini
- Trial location
- Bunia, Ituri province
- Bundibugyo candidates
- ChAdOx1, developed by the University of Oxford, and an mRNA vaccine from Moderna
- Trial participants
- Pregnant women and children aged 12 years and older
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What people are saying
Science gives us hope. Today, in Bunia DRC, the first participants were vaccinated in a new Ebola vaccine trial called Tumaini, which means ‘hope’ in Swahili
If successful, this would be the first time we have clear evidence of vaccine efficacy against Bundibugyo virus – a major advance that could transform how we respond to this outbreak and prepare for future outbreaks and help save lives
Bringing this trial into the Ebola response is an important step towards addressing the urgent needs of affected communities
Tumaini will work closely with affected communities, health authorities and outbreak response partners to generate robust evidence on vaccine performance that could contribute to curtailing the epidemic, saving lives, and strengthening preparedness for future Bundibugyo outbreaks