Ebola Bundibugyo vaccine trial begins in Bunia, DR Congo
The Tumaini trial uses ring vaccination for high-risk contacts, including pregnant women and children 12 and older.
A clinical trial of a vaccine for the Bundibugyo variant Ebola outbreak has officially begun in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The first participant in the trial, called Tumaini, has received an injection, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The study is testing whether Ervebo, already approved for the Zaire strain, can provide cross-protection against Bundibugyo, while also preparing a vaccine candidate designed specifically for the variant. The trial uses a ring vaccination strategy, targeting people who have been in contact with confirmed cases. WHO, CEPI and the Congo Ministry of Health support the program. So far, no vaccine has been approved specifically for the Bundibugyo virus, which was first reported in Congo in May.