The WHO announced an Ebola vaccine clinical trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The World Health Organization announced the start of the first Ebola vaccine clinical trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo outbreak. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said participants received the Ervebo vaccine in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province and the outbreak’s epicentre. Vaccinations took place Friday.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the start of the first clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine in the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said participants were vaccinated with Ervebo in Bunia, the capital of northeastern Ituri province and the outbreak’s epicentre.
Ervebo is approved for use against the more common Zaire strain of Ebola. The full-scale human trial will assess whether it offers cross-protection against the Bundibugyo species causing the outbreak. Tedros said the trial would help determine whether vaccine candidates designed for Bundibugyo work, and that WHO is supporting the DRC-led effort.
The DRC declared its 17th and worst-ever Ebola outbreak in May. It has since reported more than 9,700 cases and over 4,600 deaths.
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Verifier’s note
Al Jazeera reports that WHO announced the start of an Ebola vaccine clinical trial in the DRC, matching the proposed event. The report was published on October 24, 2026, within the relevant timeframe.