Scientists at Oxford University are developing a new vaccine against the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which could be ready for clinical trials within two to three months. The outbreak, centered in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has resulted in 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the risk level from 'high' to 'very high' in the DRC, and declared a public health emergency of international concern. The Bundibugyo strain kills about one-third of those infected, and there is currently no proven vaccine.

The Oxford vaccine uses the ChAdOx1 technology, previously used in the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a highly adaptable platform that can be quickly modified to target different infections. The vaccine uses a genetically modified chimpanzee cold virus to deliver genetic material from the Bundibugyo virus, training the immune system to fight the disease without causing infection.

WHO officials noted that there is no animal data yet to support the vaccine's effectiveness, but animal testing is underway at Oxford. The Serum Institute of India is prepared to mass-produce the vaccine once medical-grade material is available.

Professor Lambe, head of the Oxford Vaccine Group, stated: 'People are worried about this outbreak. We prepare for the worst-case scenario, but hopefully contact tracing and quarantine will be enough.' The vaccine would be used in ring vaccination, targeting close contacts and healthcare workers.

There are six species of Ebola virus, but only three cause major outbreaks in humans. Bundibugyo has only caused two previous outbreaks, in 2007 and 2012. While a vaccine exists for the more common Zaire strain, no proven vaccine is available for Bundibugyo.

Source: www.bbc.com