UK scientists are developing a vaccine for a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The outbreak is "spreading rapidly," according to the director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), as UK scientists work on a new vaccine that could be ready for trials within months.
The vaccine is being developed by the Oxford Vaccine Group and uses the same technology behind the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, the Telegraph reported. The approach leverages an established vaccine platform technology in the effort to address the current outbreak.
The Ebola strain involved in the outbreak is a rare species known as Bundibugyo, the BBC reported. This strain kills around a third of those infected and currently has no proven vaccine available, according to the outlet.
The Bundibugyo strain's mortality rate of approximately one-third of those infected presents a significant public health concern. The absence of a proven vaccine for this particular Ebola species has been noted in the current outbreak response context.
Sky News reported that the WHO director-general described the outbreak as "spreading rapidly" in the DRC. The characterization comes as international health authorities monitor the situation and coordinate response efforts.
The Oxford Vaccine Group's work on the new vaccine represents an effort to address the specific strain involved in the current outbreak. The use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine technology platform provides the foundation for the new Ebola vaccine candidate, according to the Telegraph.
Scientists are working toward preparing the vaccine for clinical trials, with the timeline for potential trial readiness projected to be within months, according to Sky News and the BBC. The development timeline reflects ongoing efforts to create a vaccine candidate suitable for testing.
The current status of the outbreak in the DRC remains under monitoring by the WHO. The organization's director-general has provided updates on the spread of the disease as vaccine development continues in the United Kingdom.
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