The Vaccine Alliance Gavi has described the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as "extremely worrying" due to the lack of authorized vaccines or specific treatments and the disease's spread among a highly mobile, conflict-affected population that is difficult for health services to access.
In a statement, the organization emphasizes that its concern extends beyond the countries and communities directly hit by the outbreak, as global health security is also at stake. For this reason, it insists on the need for a coordinated response based on scientific evidence and led by national authorities themselves.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared this Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). In turn, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have classified it as a Continental Security Public Health Emergency (CSPHE), reflecting the seriousness and regional scope of the situation.
According to the latest data provided by Gavi, over 500 suspected cases and more than 130 deaths have been recorded in the DRC, while infections have been confirmed in the capital, Kampala, in Uganda. This situation highlights the cross-border spread of the virus and the speed at which the outbreak is evolving in both countries.
In its role as the Global Vaccine Alliance, Gavi indicates that it is involved in coordinating the response alongside the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the WHO, the Africa CDC, UNICEF, the World Bank, the Pandemic Fund, and other international partners. Furthermore, it works closely with the governments of the affected countries to assess on-the-ground needs and determine the most appropriate way to support response operations.
Vaccines in Development Against the Bundibugyo Virus
Currently, the Bundibugyo virus lacks authorized specific vaccines or treatments. Gavi, which funds the global stockpile of Ebola vaccines approved for use against the Zaire virus, warns that any decision regarding the use of this immunization in the current outbreak will require further evaluations due to the limited available evidence on its efficacy against this variant.
The Alliance also cooperates with CEPI and other partners, including private sector actors, to study the suitability and feasibility of several candidate vaccines that are in the research and development (R&D) phase. The goal is to have options that can be used in the future if they demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy.
In this R&D phase, two candidates identified by the WHO stand out. One of them is based on the rVSV platform, the same technology that underpins the authorized vaccine against the Zaire ebolavirus, marketed as "Ervebo," but specifically adapted to the Bundibugyo virus. However, at the moment, there are no doses of this candidate available for clinical trials, and its manufacturing is estimated to take between six and nine months.
In parallel, another candidate has been developed using the ChAdOx platform, employed in authorized vaccines against Covid-19. So far, there are no studies in animal models or humans on this vaccine, nor data to support its possible use against the Bundibugyo virus, which requires extreme caution before considering its deployment.
Use of Gavi's First Response Fund
Gavi is also analyzing how its First Response Fund (FRF) could be used in the context of this outbreak, in order to facilitate agile access to vaccines that are not part of the Alliance's usual portfolio but may be key in health emergencies.
The FRF has a total of 500 million dollars (approximately 431 million euros) to cover all emergencies that meet the established criteria until 2030. The CEO of Gavi has the authority to mobilize up to 50 million dollars (around 43 million euros) at his discretion to ensure a rapid response. Should additional resources be required, any expansion must have the prior approval of the Gavi Board.