WHO Advises on Candidate Treatments for Ebola Outbreak in DRC and Uganda

The Story

An outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus is ongoing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and has spread to Uganda. The World Health Organization has convened expert groups to recommend candidate treatments and vaccines for evaluation in clinical trials, as no licensed therapies currently exist for this strain.

Key Facts

• The Ebola outbreak involves the Bundibugyo virus (BVD) and has been reported in both the DRC and Uganda.
• WHO convened its R&D Blueprint technical advisory groups and the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) to assess potential countermeasures.
• There are currently no licensed therapeutics or vaccines specifically approved for BVD.
• The expert groups recommended three candidate therapeutics for evaluation: monoclonal antibodies MBP134 and Maftivimab, and the antiviral remdesivir.
• For prevention, the oral antiviral obeldesivir was recommended as a priority candidate for post-exposure prophylaxis.
• The most promising candidate vaccine is the single-dose rVSV Bundibugyo vaccine (being developed by IAVI), which may take 7–9 months to be ready for clinical trials.
• Another candidate vaccine, ChAdOx1 Bundibugyo (Oxford University/Serum Institute of India), could become available within 2–3 months for efficacy assessment, pending additional animal data.
• The licensed Ebola vaccine Ervebo is not approved for BVD; WHO recommends it only be used in carefully designed research settings.

Conflicting Reports

No conflicting reports identified across sources.

Still Unclear

• The Guardian reports that at least 240 people have died from suspected Ebola since the outbreak began in Ituri province earlier this month, with the outbreak formally declared on May 15. (Single-source claim)
• The Guardian states that US foreign assistance to the DRC fell from $1.4 billion in 2024 to $21 million so far in 2026, and that western aid cuts have hampered response efforts. (Single-source claim)
• The Guardian mentions that at least five doctors and nurses have died after treating patients, including Dr. Vladimir Maduali and Dr. Tibenderana Katho Blaise. (Single-source claim)
• The Guardian reports that an arson attack on an Ebola centre occurred in the Rwampara region after a family was denied the body of a suspected Ebola victim. (Single-source claim)
• Neither source specifies the exact number of confirmed cases or the current case fatality rate.

Misconceptions

The Guardian reports that some community members in Ituri province believe the Ebola virus does not exist or was brought in by humanitarian workers, contributing to distrust and attacks on healthcare facilities. No other misconceptions are addressed in the sources.

Key Figures

• Dr. Papys Lame – Ebola outbreak response coordinator in Ituri for NGO Alima
• Selena Victor – Senior director of policy and advocacy for Mercy Corps
• Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – WHO Director-General
• Dr. Vladimir Maduali – Doctor who died after treating Ebola patients (The Guardian)
• Dr. Tibenderana Katho Blaise – Doctor who died after treating Ebola patients (The Guardian)
• WHO R&D Blueprint technical advisory groups
• WHO SAGE and its Ebola vaccine working group

Sources: The Guardian, World Health Organization