WHO Recommends Testing Existing Ebola Vaccine Ervebo in DRC Against New Strain

The World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending the use of an existing Ebola vaccine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to combat a current outbreak caused by a different strain of the virus. The vaccine, known as Ervebo, is the only one currently approved against Ebola.

Ervebo was developed to target the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus. However, the ongoing epidemic in the DRC is caused by the Bundibugyo variant, a distinct strain for which no specific vaccine is available. This situation presents a significant challenge in controlling the spread of the disease.

Despite the lack of a specific vaccine for the Bundibugyo variant, preliminary data reviewed by WHO experts indicates that Ervebo might provide some level of protection. Studies in animals have shown potential efficacy, and importantly, no significant safety issues have been reported with the vaccine's use in this context.

The WHO acknowledges that a vaccine specifically designed for the Bundibugyo variant remains the preferred option. However, given the current circumstances and the available data, the organization recommends prioritizing Ervebo for a randomized clinical trial within the framework of the ongoing outbreak. The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15, which has spread across several northeastern and eastern provinces, resulting in over 4,000 cases and 1,850 deaths.

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prioritize Ervebo, the only homologated vaccine against Ebola, for a randomized clinical trial in the context of the current outbreak