Nigeria: WHO Recommends a Clinical Trial of Ebola Vaccine Against Bundibugyo Virus
The WHO has recommended a clinical trial for the Ervebo vaccine to test its effectiveness against the Bundibugyo Ebola virus in the DRC. While originally designed for the Zaire strain, preliminary data suggests it may offer cross-protection.
Why it matters
Finding an effective treatment for the Bundibugyo virus is critical for controlling outbreaks in regions where no licensed vaccine currently exists.
The recommendation followed preliminary animal study data suggesting that the vaccine may provide some cross-protection against the disease, particularly in reducing deaths.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that a vaccine called Ervebo be prioritised for a randomised clinical trial against Bundibugyo virus disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
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WHO's Technical Advisory Group on Candidate Vaccine Prioritisation made the recommendation at its third meeting on 31 July, after reviewing available evidence on the vaccine's safety, efficacy, availability and feasibility.
The development comes as the DRC continues to respond to an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which was declared on 15 May 2026.
As of 30 July, WHO had recorded 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths from the outbreak in the DRC.
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