CEPI Commits $60 Million for 3 Ebola Bundibugyo Vaccines as Congo Outbreak Tops 282 Cases
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 1
CEPI Commits $60 Million for 3 Ebola Bundibugyo Vaccines as Congo Outbreak Tops 282 Cases
9 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 1
CEPI said it will channel just over $60 million to Moderna, Oxford-Serum Institute and IAVI to speed Ebola Bundibugyo vaccines, with trials potentially starting within months.
Up to $50 million goes to Moderna for preclinical work, early clinical testing and manufacturing; Oxford-Serum gets up to $8.6 million and IAVI an initial $3.2 million.
The push comes as no approved vaccine or treatment exists for the Bundibugyo strain, while eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's outbreak has reached 282 confirmed cases and 42 deaths, with about 1,100 suspected cases.
Uganda has confirmed nine cases including one death, and security conditions in eastern Congo could complicate trials even as CEPI says rapid dose production may be possible within six weeks for some candidates.
Broader funding is also building: Gavi pledged up to $50 million for the response and the World Bank's Pandemic Fund announced up to $220.6 million in grants.
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Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak 2026: Urgent Gaps in Vaccines, Global Response, and Health Equity in Central Africa
Overview
The 2026 Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak is spreading in Central Africa, with Uganda reporting seven confirmed cases and one death as of May 27, 2026. The outbreak in Uganda is directly linked to the ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, highlighting the cross-border nature of the emergency. This situation poses major challenges for regional health systems, especially since there are no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain. The crisis underscores the urgent need for accelerated research, strong community engagement, and coordinated international response to contain the outbreak and protect vulnerable populations.