Ebola Crisis Deepens As WHO Elevates Risk Level To 'Very High' In DR Congo

Last Updated:May 22, 2026, 23:08 IST

WHO raises Ebola risk in Democratic Republic of Congo to very high, Bundibugyo strain kills about one third of cases, Oxford and Serum Institute of India race to develop vaccines

The health risk to public from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been now been upgraded from “high" to “very high", the World Health Organization said on Friday.

The risk level remains high at the regional level and low worldwide, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference.

The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare and deadly variant with no approved vaccine, has killed around one-third of those infected in the latest outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak has so far led to 177 suspected deaths and around 750 suspected cases.

Scientists at University of Oxford are developing a new vaccine that could enter clinical trials within two to three months.

The vaccine uses the same technology platform developed for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Researchers said it remains unclear whether the vaccine will work and that animal studies and human trials are needed to test its effectiveness.

Animal testing has already begun in Oxford, according to the BBC.

Serum Institute of India is expected to mass produce the vaccine once Oxford researchers provide medical-grade material.

Another experimental vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain is also under development, but it is likely to take six to nine months before doses are ready for testing.

News world Ebola Crisis Deepens As WHO Elevates Risk Level To 'Very High' In DR Congo

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