Health
WHO Launches First Human Trial of Ebola Vaccine in DRC Amid Ongoing Outbreak
By AFP
The World Health Organization announced that the first human trial of an Ebola vaccine in the Democratic Republic of Congo began on Friday, October 23, 2026. The country’s worst Ebola outbreak has surpassed 9,700 cases and more than 4,600 deaths. The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which no approved vaccines or treatments exist.
The trial, called Tumaini (Swahili for “hope”), will test the existing Ervebo vaccine—approved for the Zaire strain of Ebola—to see if it offers cross‑protection against Bundibugyo. The first dose was administered in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, the outbreak’s epicenter. WHO Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that the trial will help determine whether vaccine candidates designed for Bundibugyo work.
Tumaini is a single‑framework study that can evaluate the safety, efficacy and immunogenicity of multiple vaccines. It will use a ring‑vaccination strategy, immunising contacts at high risk of infection. The trial will also incorporate two Bundibugyo‑specific candidates that are in earlier‑stage trials: a ChAdOx1 adenoviral vector vaccine from the University of Oxford and an mRNA vaccine from Moderna. Both have received funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and are expected to join the trial soon.
The study will include pregnant women and children aged 12 and older, populations often excluded from clinical trials. WHO emergencies director Chikwe Ihekweazu said the trial aims to generate rigorous evidence of vaccine efficacy against Bundibugyo, a first that could transform outbreak response and future preparedness.
Steve Ahuka‑Mundeke, the DRC Ebola response incident manager, described the trial as an important step toward meeting the urgent needs of affected communities. The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15, and WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern two days later, its second‑highest alert level.
Published – October 24, 2026 05:15 am IST
Frequently asked questions
When did WHO start the first human trial of an Ebola vaccine in the DRC?
Friday, October 23, 2026.
What vaccine is being tested in the Tumaini trial?
The existing Ervebo vaccine, approved for the Zaire strain, is being tested for cross‑protection against Bundibugyo.
Which other vaccine candidates will be included in the trial?
A ChAdOx1 adenoviral vector vaccine from the University of Oxford and an mRNA vaccine from Moderna, both funded by CEPI.