Scientists at the University of Oxford are preparing to administer the first human trials of a new Ebola vaccine to 50 volunteers in the United Kingdom within weeks. This marks a significant step in combating the ongoing epidemic, primarily affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.
The current outbreak, driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has resulted in nearly 1,800 confirmed cases and approximately 645 deaths. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated around 100 fatalities in the first week of July alone. This particular strain has a mortality rate of up to 50 percent and currently has no approved vaccine.
The severity of the outbreak is compounded by ongoing conflict in affected regions of the DRC, which hinders access to healthcare and raises concerns about underreported case numbers. The virus has spread to parts of Europe, with one confirmed case in France involving a doctor who had recently returned from a humanitarian mission in the DRC.
Vaccine Development
The vaccine being trialed in the UK was developed in just eight weeks, utilizing technology similar to the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, it employs a harmless virus to deliver genetic material from the Bundibugyo strain, stimulating the immune system to produce protective antibodies. The vaccine has already undergone successful testing on mice and macaque monkeys and received approval from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Dr. Katrina Pollock, the trial's chief investigator, stated that phase one trials are routine procedures designed to prepare for such outbreaks. Researchers aim to extend the trials to Uganda, which has reported approximately 20 confirmed cases. Volunteers, aged 18 to 55, will be monitored for up to a year, though significant side effects or lack of efficacy are expected to become apparent much sooner.
Despite the accelerated development timeline, researchers emphasize that safety standards have not been compromised. Alex Sampson, a researcher involved in the project, explained that all standard tests are being conducted, with multiple teams working concurrently to expedite the process. While rare blood clotting events were associated with the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Pollock noted that severe side effects are uncommon and that the implications for healthy trial participants were carefully considered.
Broader Efforts and Historical Context
In addition to the Oxford-led vaccine, three other vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo strain are in various stages of development. These include an mRNA vaccine by Moderna and two others using established methods against different Ebola strains, though these are slower to produce.
The Bundibugyo strain, first identified in Uganda in 2007 and reappearing in the DRC in 2012, has historically caused smaller outbreaks, with over 200 cases and around 66 deaths in total. The virus is primarily transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated surfaces. Symptoms can appear up to 21 days after exposure, and individuals are believed to become infectious once symptoms manifest.
In the UK, a suspected Ebola case at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow prompted a temporary precautionary shutdown of a hospital section before the patient tested negative. In light of the escalating international situation, UK Members of Parliament have sought assurances from health officials regarding the government's preparedness for future outbreaks.