India joins global effort to develop Ebola vaccine amid deadly Central Africa outbreak

India has become a critical player in the global fight against the deadly Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, taking on the urgent task of developing a vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain. This initiative is backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

The Serum Institute of India is collaborating with the University of Oxford and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to accelerate the development of a vaccine candidate. They are utilizing the same viral vector technology employed for the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, enabling rapid production once clinical trials are successful. The WHO has expedited its review process, with trial doses anticipated soon.

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a Bundibugyo vaccine could play a crucial role in controlling the epidemic and improving preparedness for future outbreaks.

The current outbreak, primarily affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, has resulted in over 1,500 suspected cases and approximately 650 deaths since May 2026. The WHO has declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, prompting heightened surveillance and border control measures across the region. While India has not reported any Ebola cases, authorities have implemented precautionary measures at airports and healthcare facilities, including enhanced screening and isolation protocols for travelers from affected countries.

This collaboration highlights India's growing significance in global health security. The vaccine candidate, known as ChAdOx1 BDBV, targets the less understood Bundibugyo virus, for which no licensed vaccine currently exists. Experts emphasize that the outbreak remains a global concern, and India's role in vaccine development is expected to be pivotal in containing the disease and preparing for future epidemics.

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the vaccine would be manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.