Oxford Ebola Vaccine Effort Accelerates as Congo Outbreak Surges
\n—————————————
\nOxford University researchers are accelerating work on a new vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola as a fast-growing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spreads into Uganda. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.<\/p>\n
Scientists at the University of Oxford are working urgently to develop and scale a new vaccine candidate against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, as health agencies race to contain a deadly outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.<\/p>\n
The effort comes as the WHO warns that the outbreak is spreading rapidly. Reuters reported on May 27 that more than 900 suspected cases and more than 200 suspected deaths had been reported across three eastern Congolese provinces, including areas affected by armed conflict and mass displacement. The outbreak has also spread to Uganda, where seven cases have been reported.<\/p>\n
The WHO declared the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern earlier in May, while stressing that it did not meet the threshold for a pandemic emergency.<\/p>\n
Reuters reported that Oxford\u2019s vaccine could be ready for clinical testing or emergency evaluation within two to three months, though more preclinical data and testing are still needed.<\/p>\n
Containment efforts are facing severe obstacles. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for an immediate ceasefire in eastern Congo, warning that fighting is driving displacement and making it harder to isolate patients, trace contacts, and build public trust. Aid groups have reported attacks on health workers, shortages of protective equipment, and delays in funding.<\/p>\n
Contact tracing remains a major concern. Reuters reported that, as of last week, only 7 percent of 1,261 identified contacts of suspected Ebola patients had been found and followed up, while WHO later said the number of contacts had risen to more than 2,000. Health experts say tracing exposed people for 21 days is essential to breaking chains of transmission.<\/p>\n
Children are also being heavily affected. Save the Children said children accounted for about a quarter of confirmed Ebola deaths, underscoring the need for stronger infection prevention measures in overcrowded and displaced communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Oxford Ebola Vaccine Effort Accelerates as Congo Outbreak Surges ————————————— Oxford University researchers are accelerating work on a new vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola as a fast-growing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spreads into Uganda. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Scientists …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":142644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_108372464460192_245495985553329":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[6852],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-142645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dr-congo"],"yoast_head":"\n