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Ebola Outbreak: WHO Races for Vaccine Against Rare Strain
30 May
Summary
- WHO is fast-tracking research for vaccines and treatments.
- The Bundibugyo Ebola strain has a 30% to 50% fatality rate.
- Experimental vaccines and antibody therapies show promise.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is urgently seeking to identify effective vaccines and treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. This rare but highly dangerous form of the virus is currently driving an outbreak across parts of Central Africa. The situation is critical as there are no approved vaccines or treatments specifically tailored for this strain.
Health experts are concerned due to the Bundibugyo strain's significant fatality rate, which is estimated to be between 30% and 50%. As cases rise in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring Uganda, the WHO is collaborating with international scientists and governments to expedite research and development.
Recently, the WHO convened global experts to evaluate existing research on potential candidates. The rVSV Bundibugyo vaccine, developed by IAVI, is considered the most promising, though large-scale clinical trials may still be seven to nine months away. Another candidate, the ChAdOx1 Bundibugyo vaccine from the University of Oxford, could be available for testing in two to three months.
In parallel, experimental treatments are being prioritized. These include the antibody-based therapy MBP134 and the monoclonal antibody Maftivimab, both showing potential for effectiveness. The antiviral drug remdesivir and the oral antiviral obeldesivir are also undergoing further evaluation for their utility against the Bundibugyo strain.
