Ebola Vaccine May Help Fight DRC's Deadly Outbreak

A vaccine already sitting in storage could help stop one of the fastest-growing Ebola outbreaks in history, and scientists say it's time to test it now.

New research published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that Merck's Ebola vaccine Ervebo might protect people against the Bundibugyo species of the virus currently spreading through the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The vaccine is officially approved for a different Ebola species, but growing evidence suggests it could work against this one too.

The outbreak has already infected nearly 2,500 people and killed close to 1,000. That makes it the third largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded and the fastest spreading. Violence, political instability, and overcrowded conditions have made it incredibly difficult to contain.

Here's the hopeful part: 500,000 doses of Ervebo already exist in an international stockpile. Meanwhile, vaccines specifically designed for this Ebola species won't be ready for field testing for several more months.

Professor Edouard Lhomme from the University of Bordeaux led the new study. "Preparedness is not only about developing the next generation of vaccines, it is also about rapidly learning whether the tools we already have can help save lives," he told STAT News.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention appears ready to act. Reports indicate they're planning a trial to test the vaccine in healthcare workers, partnering with Doctors Without Borders to make it happen.

The Bright Side

Multiple research teams have studied blood samples from people who received Ervebo over the years. They found the vaccine triggers antibodies that might protect against the Bundibugyo virus. While lab results don't always translate to real-world protection, the consistency of findings across different studies is encouraging.

A decade-old study in primates showed similar promise. Animals vaccinated against two different Ebola species survived exposure to the Bundibugyo virus at doses that should have been lethal.

The World Health Organization plans to review the idea at their October meeting. While they've expressed some concerns about creating false security, they've acknowledged the vaccine could be studied under strict clinical protocols.

For the thousands of people living in the outbreak zone and the healthcare workers risking their lives to help them, testing an existing vaccine could mean the difference between waiting and acting.