Moderna and Oxford University are accelerating research on three vaccines to combat Ebola, while the WHO warns that the Bundibugyo strain outbreak in Congo is a cause for concern.
Researchers from Oxford University, Moderna, and IAVI are racing against time to develop three new Ebola vaccines specifically targeting the Bundibugyo virus strain. Currently, no approved vaccines exist for this strain, raising fears of a repeat of the worst Ebola outbreak in West African history.
The recent outbreak of the "Bundibugyo" Ebola strain is alarming global public health sectors, as the death toll approaches 250 and suspected cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have surpassed 1,000.
The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) revealed that this outbreak is trending toward becoming the most severe ever recorded. IAVI is developing a vaccine adapted from the Zaire strain Ebola vaccine; trials in monkeys showed rapid immune response and nearly 100% protection. However, following normal procedures, it could take 7 to 9 months before human clinical trials begin, despite efforts to expedite the process.
Meanwhile, researchers at Oxford University and Moderna are also expediting their own vaccine developments, supported by funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Moderna announced it is applying mRNA technology, previously successful with the COVID-19 vaccine, to the Bundibugyo Ebola strain.
Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel stated that the company is fully committed to accelerating efforts to help control the outbreak and deliver vaccines to the communities most in need.
Oxford University is also developing a new Ebola vaccine and expects to begin clinical trials within the next two to three months.
Although these three vaccines use different technologies, their shared goal is to train the immune system to recognize the "Bundibugyo glycoprotein" found on the virus surface, enabling the body to respond quickly and eliminate the virus upon infection.
Currently, nine Ebola cases have been confirmed in Uganda, while the outbreak in Congo continues to spread, especially in conflict-affected areas with limited medical personnel and health infrastructure.
Many experts are drawing parallels between the current situation and the severe West African Ebola outbreak from 2014 to 2016, which was the largest in history, infecting nearly 29,000 people and causing over 11,000 deaths.
Dr. Mark Feinberg, IAVI President, said the current outbreak is sending clear warning signals and could be as severe or worse than past major outbreaks. He emphasized that vaccine development and other preventive measures are the most urgent priorities now.
Doctors Without Borders also expressed deep concern, noting that they have never seen such a rapid increase in cases at the early stages of an outbreak before.
There are six known Ebola virus strains, but only three have caused outbreaks in humans.
While vaccines exist for the Zaire strain—the most common Ebola strain—the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, which has been detected only twice in history and has no officially approved vaccine.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated that successfully developing a vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain would help control the current outbreak and improve global preparedness for future outbreaks.
.Source:BBC
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