Three Vaccines Under Development Against Rare Ebola Strain Amid Over 250 Deaths

Researchers globally are working to develop three new vaccines targeting a rare Ebola virus strain known as "Bundibugyo." Health authorities have reported over 1,000 suspected infections and more than 250 deaths, predominantly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with additional cases detected in neighboring Uganda.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concerns that the actual number of cases may be significantly higher than reported due to challenges in surveillance and diagnosis within affected regions. This particular strain has drawn special attention from experts because its fatality rate is approximately 50%, and currently, no approved vaccine exists to combat it, unlike the more common "Zaire" strain, which has an effective vaccine.

Three main entities are leading vaccine development efforts: the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, and the American biotechnology company Moderna, recognized for producing one of the prominent COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr. Mark Feinberg, head of IAVI, stated that the ongoing outbreak "threatens to be as severe as the Ebola outbreak between 2014 and 2016, and possibly worse," emphasizing that creating a vaccine and new preventive measures is an urgent priority.

At the University of Oxford, researchers are developing a new vaccine but anticipate that it will take between two to three months before human trials can commence. Consequently, this vaccine will not be available to patients for at least the next six months.

IAVI is attempting to adapt the existing Ebola vaccine designed for the "Zaire" strain to be effective against the "Bundibugyo" strain. Animal testing has demonstrated nearly 100% protection levels. However, this vaccine may require approximately nine months before entering clinical trials.

Meanwhile, Moderna is utilizing messenger RNA (mRNA) technology—the same approach successfully employed during the COVID-19 pandemic—to accelerate the development of its new vaccine.

Each of the three vaccines aims to train the immune system to recognize and rapidly respond to the virus upon exposure. Although the mechanisms differ among the projects, these variations could affect protection levels and the number of doses needed.

Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), highlighted that "every day counts in the race against this deadly disease," particularly given the virus's rapid spread and the absence of any licensed vaccine to date.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed hope that developing a vaccine specific to the Bundibugyo strain will aid in controlling the current outbreak and enhance preparedness for future waves.

At the same time, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) warned that the situation is "extremely concerning," noting that the number of cases reported in the initial weeks of the outbreak is unprecedented compared to previous Ebola waves.

Symptoms of the Bundibugyo strain resemble those of other Ebola strains and include fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. In some cases, these symptoms progress to internal bleeding and organ failure, which can result in death.

Public health experts believe that the success of any of the new vaccines could not only reduce fatalities and severe cases but also represent a crucial step in limiting the virus's spread and preventing it from escalating into a new global health crisis.