JULY 13, 2026 13:05
The University of Oxford has launched the first human trial of a vaccine against Bundibugyo ebolavirus, seeking to accelerate efforts to combat an outbreak spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda
The early-stage trial, known as BD-Ebov, will evaluate the safety and immune response of the ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine in 50 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 in Oxford, the university said on Monday
Recruitment has begun, with vaccinations expected to start in the coming weeks pending regulatory approval
The vaccine was developed by scientists at Oxford’s Vaccine Group and Pandemic Sciences Institute using the same viral vector platform as the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot
Serum Institute of India, which is partnering on the program, said it manufactured and stockpiled about 620,000 doses of the vaccine candidate within two weeks and supplied 4,000 investigational doses for the early-stage study
In May, the World Health Organization recommended prioritizing the ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine, alongside a single-dose candidate known as rVSV Bundibugyo, being developed by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, for clinical evaluation as part of the response to the ongoing outbreak
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations said it would initially invest up to $8.6 million for the development of the shot
Preparations are also under way for additional clinical studies in Uganda, subject to regulatory approval, through partnerships including the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit
If the early-stage trial is successful, CEPI said it would work with Oxford and Serum Institute to support late-stage studies needed to seek emergency-use authorization or full regulatory approval
The partners said they aim to ensure rapid and affordable vaccine supplies for affected countries
A US citizen infected with the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo was admitted to Frankfurt University Hospital early on Monday, officials said
The patient arrived at the hospital’s special isolation unit at around 3 a.m. after contracting the Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus in Congo, the hospital said.
The US CDC said on Friday that a US citizen working for a humanitarian organization in Congo had tested positive for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus
“The patient’s condition is currently stable,” said Timo Wolf, head of the special isolation unit
An official with the Christian aid group Samaritan’s Purse confirmed to Reuters that the patient, in his 60s, was a full-time employee serving as a warehouse manager in Congo
“He received early treatment, and I am hopeful he’s going to have a good outcome,” he said, expressing gratitude to the US State Department for arranging for early treatment and evacuation
The hospital said there was no risk to the public or other patients, as the individual is being treated in complete isolation in a unit separate from the rest of the facility
The admission comes as the number of confirmed Ebola cases in Congo rose to 1,926, including 702 deaths, with the outbreak spreading to two new provinces, Haut-Uele and Tshopo, the country’s public health institute said on Monday
In June, a US citizen treated in Berlin after contracting Ebola in Congo was discharged from Charité hospital
