Oxford Scientists Fast-Track Ebola Vaccine Amid DRC Outbreak
Researchers aim to begin clinical trials for a new vaccine targeting the rare Bundibugyo species within two to three months.
Primary source: BBC World News. Full source links, newsroom standards, and correction details are below.
Fast summary
Start here
- Oxford University scientists are developing a vaccine for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola using ChAdOx1 technology.
- Clinical trials could begin in two to three months, depending on the results of ongoing animal testing.
- The World Health Organization recently upgraded the risk level of the current DRC outbreak to very high nationally.
What happened
Scientists at Oxford University have announced the development of an experimental vaccine to combat a rare species of Ebola currently causing an emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The vaccine targets the Bundibugyo species, which lacks the established preventative treatments available for more common strains like the Zaire species.
What's new in this update
Oxford researchers are utilizing the ChAdOx1 technology—the same platform used for their COVID-19 vaccine—to accelerate production. Animal testing is currently underway in Oxford, and if successful, the Serum Institute of India is prepared to begin mass production as soon as medical-grade material is available. This project is being treated with urgency as the World Health Organization (WHO) recently upgraded the risk within the DRC to very high.
Key details
The current outbreak has resulted in 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths. While a separate experimental Bundibugyo vaccine is also in development, it is estimated to be six to nine months away from testing, making the Oxford candidate the most immediate prospect. The ChAdOx1 technology uses a genetically engineered common cold virus from chimpanzees to instruct human cells to recognize and fight the Ebola virus without causing infection.
Background and context
Bundibugyo is one of six Ebola species but has only caused two significant prior outbreaks, in 2007 and 2012. Because it has not been seen for over a decade, research for this specific strain has historically received less investment than the Zaire species. The WHO declared the current situation a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday, though they emphasized it is not a pandemic.
What to watch next
The timeline for human clinical trials hinges on animal data currently being gathered. Scientists and the WHO caution that there is no guarantee of effectiveness yet. Success will depend on whether the vaccine can be proved safe and capable of generating a sufficient immune response to the Bundibugyo strain before the outbreak expands further.
Why this matters
There is currently no proven vaccine for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which has a fatality rate of approximately 33% and is currently spreading in the DRC.
Reader context
This story belongs to Northstar Herald's International Relations coverage, with related entities including Ebola, Oxford University, Bundibugyo, Vaccine Development. The report is based on BBC World News source material.
Related coverage
Why it matters
There is currently no proven vaccine for the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which has a fatality rate of approximately 33% and is currently spreading in the DRC.
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