The Democratic Republic of the Congo has begun a vaccine trial aimed at establishing whether available and experimental vaccines can protect against Bundibugyo virus, the cause of the country’s ongoing Ebola outbreak.
The first participant was vaccinated in Bunia on Friday, October 23, according to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which supports the study. WHO also confirmed the launch.
Named Tumaini, meaning “hope” in Swahili, the Phase 2/3 trial begins with Ervebo. That vaccine is licensed against another Ebola virus species; its effectiveness against Bundibugyo remains under investigation.
The study uses ring vaccination, focusing on contacts at high risk of infection. Its design allows multiple vaccine candidates to be evaluated within one trial framework.
CEPI said preparations were underway for Bundibugyo-specific candidates developed by Moderna and by the University of Oxford with the Serum Institute of India to join the study.
Congolese researchers and the University of Antwerp co-lead the trial under national health ministry oversight.
Vaccination has started, but the trial has not established that the participating vaccines prevent Bundibugyo infection. No vaccine is currently approved specifically against that virus.
