Oxford Launches First Human Trial of Bundibugyo Ebola Vaccine Amid Congo Outbreak

The University of Oxford has launched the first human trial of a vaccine for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, which is spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The outbreak has caused 1,926 cases and 702 deaths. The trial will test the ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine, which uses the same technology as the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot, on 50 adults. The Serum Institute of India has already stockpiled 620,000 doses.

Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak

• ▪The infected U.S. citizen was admitted to a special isolation unit at Frankfurt University Hospital on July 13, 2026.
• ▪An outbreak of the Bundibugyo ebolavirus is spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
• ▪As of July 13, 2026, the Ebola outbreak in Congo has reached 1,926 confirmed cases, including 702 deaths.
• ▪A U.S. citizen in his 60s, working for the Christian aid group Samaritan's Purse in Congo, was infected with the Bundibugyo Ebola virus.
• ▪The Ebola outbreak in Congo has spread to two new provinces, Haut-Uele and Tshopo.

Oxford vaccine trial

• ▪The early-stage trial, named BD-Ebov, will enroll 50 healthy adults aged 18 to 55 in Oxford.
• ▪The BD-Ebov trial will evaluate the safety and immune response of the ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine.
• ▪The University of Oxford launched the first human trial of a vaccine for the Bundibugyo ebolavirus on July 13, 2026.

ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine development

• ▪In May, the World Health Organization recommended prioritising the ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine for clinical evaluation.
• ▪The ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine was developed by scientists at the University of Oxford's Vaccine Group and Pandemic Sciences Institute.
• ▪The ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine uses the same viral vector platform as the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot.

Serum Institute manufacturing

• ▪The Serum Institute of India manufactured and stockpiled about 620,000 doses of the ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine candidate within two weeks.
• ▪The Serum Institute of India supplied 4,000 investigational doses of the vaccine for the early-stage study in Oxford.

International partnerships

• ▪The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) will initially invest up to $8.6 million to develop the ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine.
• ▪Additional clinical studies of the vaccine are being planned in Uganda through partnerships with local and UK research institutes.
• ▪The U.S. Department of State arranged for the evacuation and early treatment of the American citizen infected in Congo.

Regulatory pathway

• ▪If the initial trial is successful, partners will support late-stage studies needed for emergency-use authorisation or full regulatory approval.
• ▪The partners aim to ensure rapid and affordable vaccine supplies for countries affected by the outbreak.

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