UK Starts 50-Person Ebola Vaccine Trial as Bundibugyo Outbreak Kills 625
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 13
UK Starts 50-Person Ebola Vaccine Trial as Bundibugyo Outbreak Kills 625
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 13
Summary
Fifty healthy adults aged 18-55 will join the UK’s first human trial of an experimental Bundibugyo Ebola vaccine, with first doses expected within weeks after regulatory clearance.
Oxford researchers built the candidate in eight weeks using the chimpanzee adenovirus platform behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid shot, then advanced it from mouse and macaque testing to clinical-grade manufacturing.
The Serum Institute of India has already made and stockpiled about 620,000 doses, while researchers work with partners in Uganda to prepare possible African trials and track UK volunteers for a year.
The push reflects an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has caused 1,792 confirmed cases and 625 deaths, with no approved vaccine or drug for the Bundibugyo species.
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Bundibugyo Ebola 2026: Historic Outbreak in DRC Drives Emergency Vaccine and Therapeutic Efforts
Overview
In July 2026, the world faces an urgent challenge as the Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak spreads in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with hundreds of cases and many deaths. This is only the third time this strain has caused an outbreak, and there are no approved vaccines or treatments yet. The global health community is racing to find solutions, launching clinical trials for new therapeutics like MBP134 and remdesivir. The lack of existing countermeasures makes rapid intervention critical, highlighting the need for coordinated international efforts to control the outbreak and protect vulnerable populations.