Africa’s health agency says Ebola vaccine could arrive by end of 2026

A widening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has drawn urgent promises of help from global and regional health leaders, with Africa CDC saying it intends to deliver a vaccine and treatment for the Bundibugyo strain before the year is out.

“What we can tell you for sure, by the end of this year, 2026, Africa CDC will make sure that we have a vaccine and medicine against Bundibugyo,” its Director-General Jean Kaseya said.

At the same time, the head of the World Health Organization vowed to use “everything in my power” to help bring the deadly epidemic under control in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared an extended message with Congolese citizens while travelling to the country.

In its latest update, the WHO said that as of last Sunday it had logged 10 confirmed Ebola deaths and 223 suspected deaths in DRC since the outbreak was declared on 15 May, from more than 1,000 confirmed and suspected cases overall.

“I want to be with you in these moments. And I want you to know that you are not alone,” Dr Tedros said in the message posted on social media.

“Ebola is now back. This time, the outbreak is hitting Ituri province the hardest,” he said, noting that more than 90% of cases were in the northeastern province, with smaller numbers recorded in North Kivu and South Kivu.

“I know how frightening that is, and I know that the people of Ituri are bearing a burden that is not easy to carry.”

Dr Tedros said communities in the affected areas were already confronting malaria, hunger and insecurity before Ebola resurfaced.

“It is not fair, and I will not pretend otherwise.”

He said the response to Ebola would rest on the endurance and resolve of the people living through the crisis.

“We do not come to Ituri with only medicine and expertise. We come to join a community that already knows how to fight for its survival,” he said.

Dr Tedros warned that insecurity in eastern DRC, a region scarred by three decades of conflict, is complicating efforts to contain the outbreak.

The outbreak has been driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no vaccine or treatment.

The WHO has also cautioned that the outbreak’s real reach is probably far broader than the confirmed and suspected caseload suggests, after apparently spreading undetected for some time.

US commits another $80 mn to Ebola fight

The United States said it is providing an additional $80 million (€69m) to support efforts against the Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda.

That raises total US assistance since the outbreak began to $112m (€96m), the State Department said.

“The US government continues a comprehensive and coordinated response to contain the Ebola outbreak at its source to protect the American people and prevent further international spread,” the department said in a statement.

The money will fund protective gear for healthcare workers, screening at regional borders, test kits and other critical supplies.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged to prevent Ebola from reaching the US.

Ebola travel rules tighten ahead of World Cup

The United States, Mexico and Canada said they had agreed on public health travel measures for people arriving from African areas considered at highest risk from Ebola, part of a coordinated effort to safeguard residents and visitors during the World Cup.

“The health and safety of every person in the region remains our highest priority as we welcome the world to North America,” they said in the statement, which did not spell out the coordinated measures.

Last week, Washington barred non-citizens who had recently travelled to DRC, Uganda or South Sudan from entering the US.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later expanded that policy to include green card holders who had been in those countries within the previous 21 days.

Canada has imposed a 90-day entry ban on residents from DRC, Uganda ‌and South Sudan.

Under a statement from Canada’s public health agency, Canadian citizens, permanent residents and other foreign nationals who have recently been in affected areas and do ⁠not show symptoms will be required to quarantine for 21 days starting 30 May.

Earlier this week, Mexico’s health secretary David Kershenovich announced stricter Ebola screening at airports, urged the public to avoid travel to DRC and asked travellers arriving from the country to follow a 21-day quarantine.