Ebola vaccine development and rollout in DRC

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is experiencing its third-largest Ebola outbreak on record, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain. As of early August 2026, there have been over 4,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,800 deaths. The outbreak is concentrated in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, with neighboring Uganda also reporting cases. In response, multiple organizations are racing to develop vaccines. The United States — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it will roll out the existing Zaire-strain vaccine (Ervebo) to provide cross-protection, citing zero deaths among vaccinated individuals. The World Health Organization recommended a randomized clinical trial of Ervebo against the Bundibugyo strain. Meanwhile, Hilleman Laboratories, a joint venture between Merck and the Wellcome Trust, announced it will develop a Bundibugyo-specific vaccine based on the rVSV platform, with funding from CEPI. The University of Oxford has also begun a clinical trial for its own Bundibugyo vaccine. These efforts aim to stem the escalating outbreak and provide affordable doses for affected regions.