Health · Public Health & Disease · 5 hrs ago
WHO approves trials of two vaccines targeting deadly Ebola strain
The WHO has approved trials of two vaccines designed for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, as the outbreak continues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The vaccines, developed by Oxford with the Serum Institute of India and by Moderna, are being added to a trial led by the DRC’s National Institute for Biomedical Research.
The outbreak has caused more than 10,400 confirmed cases and killed over 5,300 people, most of them in the DRC.
The existing Ervebo vaccine targets a different Ebola strain, so its protection against Bundibugyo is uncertain.
The new vaccines are still experimental, and the trials will test whether they work at scale; results are expected in early 2027.
Health agencies say vaccination must be combined with early care, contact tracing, isolation, safe burials and work with local communities.
The World Health Organization approved clinical trials of two vaccines designed for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
The vaccines are ChAdOx1 BDBV, developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, and Moderna’s mRNA-1469.
The trials are taking place amid an outbreak that has killed more than 5,300 people, most of them in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The DRC’s National Institute for Biomedical Research is leading the trial with support from the WHO and other partners.
The vaccines are being tested because the existing Ervebo vaccine was developed for a different Ebola strain.
- Who
- The World Health Organization approved the trials. The DRC’s National Institute for Biomedical Research is leading them.
- What
- Clinical trials will test two vaccines developed specifically for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
- When
- The approval was reported on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. A trial using Ervebo began the previous month.
- Where
- The trials are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Why
- The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which the existing Ervebo vaccine was not designed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A trial began using Ervebo, which was approved for a different Ebola strain.
Africa CDC reported that the epidemic had killed more than 5,300 people and that 10,444 cases had been confirmed.
WHO expert groups recommended adding two Bundibugyo vaccine candidates to the trials.
- Vaccine candidate
- ChAdOx1 BDBV
- Vaccine candidate
- mRNA-1469
- Trial lead
- DRC’s National Institute for Biomedical Research
- Confirmed cases
- 10,444
- Deaths
- More than 5,300
- Target strain
- Bundibugyo
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What people are saying
Today, WHO expert groups are recommending adding two vaccine candidates to the trial
Vaccines are powerful tools, but they are not substitutes for the proven measures that can save lives now: early care, contact tracing, isolation, safe and dignified burials and trusted engagement with communities
Such restrictions punish countries for doing the right thing, create disincentives for transparency, and harm the response