The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing its largest recorded Ebola outbreak, with 3,748 cases, including 1,657 deaths and 708 recoveries as of August 1, 2026, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In response, clinical trials for enhanced treatments and the world’s first vaccine specifically targeting the Bundibugyo species of Ebola have been launched. The initial vaccine trial began in the United Kingdom on July 24, 2026, with a second trial set to start in Canada shortly thereafter.

Led by the DRC’s National Institute for Biomedical Research alongside an international consortium of research and outbreak-response partners, a trial enrolling over 25 patients is underway to assess whether an oral medicine administered for 10 days to confirmed high-risk contacts can prevent the onset of the disease.

Clinical trials and treatment efforts are concentrated in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak, where a new 100-bed treatment center was recently inaugurated in Bunia, the provincial capital.

Vasee Moorthy, acting lead of WHO’s R&D Blueprint, noted that compared to previous Ebola outbreaks, trials commenced more rapidly this time due to pre-written protocols established before the outbreak was declared in mid-May 2026. However, he cautioned that definitive results from ongoing trials are likely several months away.

Additionally, at the DRC-Uganda border, a mobile laboratory supported by WHO and the World Food Programme (WFP) is delivering Ebola test results within approximately one hour, significantly reducing delays and providing critical diagnostics to over 94,000 people.

Sources