Story perspectives

Ebola cases spike in DRC as vaccine trial nears

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 11:03 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Merck Starts Ebola Trial

Merck will launch a Phase 3 randomized Ebola vaccine trial within weeks, starting with its Ervebo vaccine.
DRC authorities and Doctors Without Borders will conduct an observational study vaccinating frontline workers with Ervebo then a Sudan-Ebola candidate.
Moderna and the University of Oxford are preparing Bundibugyo-specific vaccine candidates for inclusion in the trial.

Summary

Tedros Highlights Ebola Trends

WHO Director-General Tedros said Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo shows encouraging signs in Ituri.
South Kivu has reported no new Ebola cases since May.
North Kivu weekly Ebola cases have doubled from about 100 to over 200 in two weeks.
The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain, for which no cure exists and Ervebo’s effectiveness is unknown.

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Merck Starts Ebola Trial

Merck will launch a Phase 3 randomized Ebola vaccine trial within weeks, starting with its Ervebo vaccine.
DRC authorities and Doctors Without Borders will conduct an observational study vaccinating frontline workers with Ervebo then a Sudan-Ebola candidate.
Moderna and the University of Oxford are preparing Bundibugyo-specific vaccine candidates for inclusion in the trial.

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