{
  "id": 239323,
  "title": "Ebola: Africa CDC plans to use vaccine for different strain as outbreak spreads",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/ebola-africa-cdc-plans-to-use-vaccine-for-different-strain-as-239323",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-06T21:12:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "DW News",
    "slug": "dw-news",
    "url": "https://www.dw.com/en/ebola-africa-cdc-plans-to-use-vaccine-for-different-strain-as-outbreak-spreads/a-78271789?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "African health authorities have decided to use a Zaire Ebola virus vaccine to combat an ongoing outbreak that involves a different, fast-spreading strain called Bundibugyo. This current outbreak is centered in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and its director general, Jean Kaseya, informed reporters that early test cases suggest the vaccine is effective in reducing deaths, if not symptoms.\n\nThe Africa CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) plan to conduct further research to investigate any possible mutations or abnormalities in the current outbreak, as it spreads six to eight times faster than any past outbreak on record. Kaseya met with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Kinshasa the previous day, where they discussed the severity of the situation.\n\nAs of May, 4,000 cases of Ebola have been confirmed, with 1,801 deaths. This outbreak is the second-largest on record, with a death rate six times higher than the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak. The current outbreak has now been confirmed in 51 health zones, up from nine in May. Kaseya also noted that during the Zaire strain outbreak in DRC between 2018 and 2020, one patient was identified from every 57 contacts, compared to one case from every 41 contacts in neighboring Uganda this year.\n\nThe Africa CDC plans to distribute existing Zaire Ebola vaccines and expand the use of the antiviral drug remdesivir in affected areas. However, limited supplies and the remote location of the outbreak pose challenges. Health authorities are also screening passengers on a river boat near the DRC capital of Kinshasa after a passenger reportedly showed Ebola-like symptoms.",
  "summary": "The head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control pledged to deploy a vaccine for a previous Ebola strain in the current DRC outbreak, with test cases indicating a potentially live-saving level of protection.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Deutsche Welle Science",
        "title": "Ebola: Africa CDC plans to use vaccine for different strain as outbreak spreads",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/ebola-africa-cdc-plans-to-use-vaccine-for-different-strain-as",
        "published": "2026-08-06T21:12:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}