WHO OKs Cepheid Ebola Test Amid Outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) has granted an emergency use listing (EUL) to Cepheid's GeneXpert Dx test for detecting Ebola viruses, including the Bundibugyo (BVD), Zaire, and Sudan strains. This makes it the fourth diagnostic to receive such approval amid the ongoing BVD outbreak in Central Africa. The test delivers results in under an hour, empowering healthcare providers and public health authorities to identify suspected cases and bolster containment strategies.

The WHO declared the current BVD outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, 2026. As of August 31, 2026, the epicenter in the Democratic Republic of Congo has reported 6,186 cases and 3,007 deaths.

Cepheid's CMO, Connie Savor, highlighted the company's established presence in Central and East Africa, positioning them to deliver timely diagnostic information. The listing reinforces a commitment to expanding access to critical diagnostics in needed regions.

With no FDA-approved vaccines for BVD, research into antiviral therapies and enhanced diagnostics is accelerating. The PARTNERS trial, initiated in July 2026, is evaluating remdesivir and Mapp Biopharmaceutical's investigational antibody-based therapy, MBP134. Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency is collaborating with the African Medicines Agency on clinical trials for potential vaccine candidates, including a rVSV-based BVD vaccine and an mRNA vaccine developed by Moderna, which began Phase I trials in August 2026.