WHO Issues New Ebola Vaccine Guidance for DR Congo Amid Outbreak
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new emergency guidance on the potential use of the licensed Ervebo Ebola vaccine during the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The updated guidance, published on September 1, addresses the use of Ervebo during outbreaks caused by Bundibugyo virus, the Ebola species responsible for the current outbreak in eastern DRC.
The development is significant because Ervebo was developed and licensed to protect against Zaire ebolavirus, while the current DRC outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus. WHO has previously noted that there is currently no licensed vaccine specifically for Bundibugyo virus.
According to WHO, the new guidance provides recommendations on the potential use of Ervebo in the context of Bundibugyo virus outbreaks. The agency is supporting the DRC government with surveillance, contact tracing, clinical preparedness, supplies and community engagement.
The DRC outbreak was confirmed in May 2026 and has continued to spread in a challenging environment marked by insecurity, population movement and limited access to some affected communities.
The WHO guidance follows the allocation of Ebola vaccine doses to the DRC in August as health authorities intensified efforts to contain the outbreak. WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention welcomed the vaccine allocation on August 20.
WHO’s latest emergency guidance is therefore intended to help health authorities determine how the available licensed vaccine could potentially be used while efforts continue to develop and evaluate vaccines specifically targeting Bundibugyo virus.
