STORY: Scientists at Oxford University are developing a new Ebola vaccine that could enter clinical trials within two to three months, as global health authorities race to identify medical options to help contain an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.

About 177 suspected deaths and almost 750 suspected cases have been reported in the outbreak, and the World Health Organization has warned the numbers are likely to rise. Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV) has a fatality rate of up to 40%.

Unlike the more common Zaire strain, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for Bundibugyo.

A small number of experimental vaccines and therapies are being assessed, and global health authorities are examining whether any existing Ebola medical options might offer protection - so far supported only by limited animal data.

The vaccine uses the same technology developed by UK scientists during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"What we're doing is we're using the knowledge that we've amassed across that time and during Covid, it's a little bit like muscle memory," said Professor Teresa Lambe of the Oxford Vaccine Group.

The Oxford Vaccine Group said it is working to generate preclinical data to support the development and testing of the ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (MAY 21, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

1. HEALTH WORKERS EXITING TENT, CARRYING COFFIN

2. HEALTH WORKERS PLACING COFFIN ON TOP OF VEHICLE

OXFORD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 23, 2026) (BBC - No use UK)

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) OXFORD VACCINE GROUP, PROFESSOR TERESA LAMBE, SAYING:

"What we are doing is, using the same technology that we used for the Covid vaccine to help make a vaccine against Bundibugyo. So we're going as quickly and, as safely as we can."

BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (MAY 21, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

4. HEALTH WORKERS DISINFECTING THEMSELVES

OXFORD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 23, 2026) (BBC - No use UK)

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) OXFORD VACCINE GROUP, PROFESSOR TERESA LAMBE, SAYING:

"So, normally a vaccine will take some time to get made and get tested. So typically it will take 5 to 10 years. We don't have that luxury here. So what we're trying to do is do many of the steps that are routinely done do it in parallel. So we are working as hard and as fast as we can. And we've got some great partners globally. The Serum Institute of India, our onsite manufacturing facility CBF. So we are getting the materials that we need to make the vaccine at scale to the Serum Institute quickly. And we're hoping if everything goes well, that we would have a vaccine that could be tested in 2 to 3 months."

GOMA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (MAY 20, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

6. VARIOUS OF SOCIAL WORKERS TESTING PEOPLE'S TEMPERATURE

OXFORD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 23, 2026) (BBC - No use UK)

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) OXFORD VACCINE GROUP, PROFESSOR TERESA LAMBE, SAYING:

"We and other people within the field have been using this technology for 10-15 years. And what we're doing is we're using the knowledge that we've amassed across that time and during Covid, it's a little bit like muscle memory, where we don't necessarily want to have to do it, but we are doing it and stepping up as and when is needed."

GOMA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (MAY 20, 2026) (REUTERS - Access All)

8. VARIOUS OF VEHICLES BEING STOPPED FOR OCCUPANTS TO WASH THEIR HANDS AND WEAR FACE MASKS AT KANYARUTSHINYA (NYIRAGONGO TERRITORY), THE MAIN ENTRY POINT TO GOMA

9. VARIOUS OF RESIDENTS CROSSING THE BARRIER WASHING THEIR HANDS

OXFORD, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 23, 2026) (BBC - No use UK)

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) OXFORD VACCINE GROUP, PROFESSOR TERESA LAMBE, SAYING:

"But where this outbreak is happening, there's been a lot of displacement of individuals. It's an ongoing conflict zone. And the health care system is very fragile, verging on non-existent. So it does make all of our jobs all the more difficult."

BENI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (ARCHIVE - AUGUST 10, 2018) (UNICEF - Access All)

11. TENT OUTSIDE HOSPITAL

12. VARIOUS OF EBOLA VACCINE BEING ADMINISTERED TO PATIENT

13. HEALTH PROFESSIONAL FILLING SYRINGE WITH EBOLA VACCINE