Ebola vaccine by end of 2026, Africa's health agency says

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has confirmed an Ebola vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain will be ready by the end of 2026. Director-General Jean Kaseya stated that Africa CDC will ensure the vaccine and corresponding medicine are available, addressing the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 10 confirmed and 223 suspected Ebola deaths in DRC since the outbreak was declared on May 15, with over 1,000 total cases. The outbreak is concentrated in Ituri province, accounting for over 90% of cases, while smaller numbers have been reported in North Kivu and South Kivu. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for collective effort to contain the outbreak, noting pre-existing challenges like malaria, hunger, and insecurity in the region. The U.S. government has allocated an additional $80 million to combat the Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda, bringing total aid to $112 million since the outbreak began. The funds will support protective equipment for healthcare workers, border screenings, and test kits. The U.S. has also banned non-citizens and green card holders who traveled to DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan in the past 21 days from entering the country. Canada has imposed a 90-day ban on residents from DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan, while the U.S., Mexico, and Canada have aligned travel measures ahead of the World Cup to prevent Ebola spread. The WHO warns the true extent of the outbreak may be wider than reported, as the virus has likely circulated undetected for some time.