UK scientists developing new Ebola vaccine that could be ready in months

An Oxford University team has created an experimental vaccine targeting the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak has produced 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths, with Bundibugyo killing about a third of infected people and lacking a proven vaccine. The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern and raised the risk level in the DRC from high to very high, while keeping international risk low. The vaccine uses the ChAdOx1 platform previously used for Covid, engineered to deliver Bundibugyo genetic material using a modified chimpanzee cold virus that is safe for people. Animal testing is underway, and mass production is planned through the Serum Institute of India pending medical-grade supply and successful trials.

"Scientists at Oxford University have made a new vaccine that could be used within months to help tackle the Ebola emergency. The outbreak, centred on the Democratic Republic of Congo, has reached 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths. The rare species of Ebola involved - known as Bundibugyo - kills around a third of those infected and has no proven vaccine yet. They say they are working urgently in case the outbreak spirals and their experimental vaccine is needed."

"The WHO has since upgraded the risk from the current Ebola outbreak from 'high' to 'very high' in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Regionally, the risk is now high, the WHO said today, but remains low internationally. There are no guarantees the vaccine will prove effective. It will take animal research and then trials in people to know for sure."

"The vaccine uses the same technology the team developed during the Covid pandemic. It is a highly adjustable technology - known as ChAdOx1 - that can be quickly tweaked so it works against different infections. During the pandemic it was loaded with genetic code from the Covid-virus. This time it has been prepared with genetic code from the Bundibugyo species of Ebola."

"It uses a common cold virus that normally infects chimpanzees but has been genetically engineered to make it safe for people. Researchers use this modified cold virus to carry and deliver important genetic material about the Bundibugyo Ebola virus to cells, instructing them to recognise and fight off the actual disease. The vaccine does not cause an infection or Ebola symptoms, but trains the immune system to give protection."

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