27 May,2026 10:48 AM IST | Moscow/Cape Town | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/AFP
Russia has announced that its scientists have developed a vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which is currently linked to a growing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The announcement comes as health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) continue to monitor the rapidly spreading outbreak that has already resulted in hundreds of suspected deaths across Central Africa.
The announcement was made by the Russian Embassy in South Africa through a post on X, citing Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko.
According to the statement, Russian scientists have created a vaccine that may offer protection against the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has been identified as the cause of the current outbreak in the DRC.
The embassy stated that the vaccine could help combat the ongoing health emergency and potentially provide broader protection against related Ebola variants.
However, Russian authorities have not yet released detailed scientific data, clinical trial results or regulatory approvals related to the vaccine.
The announcement comes amid growing concern from the World Health Organization over the scale of the outbreak in Central Africa.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently warned that the outbreak is spreading faster than health systems can respond.
During a virtual ministerial briefing on the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak, Tedros said there are now more than 900 suspected cases and around 220 suspected deaths linked to the outbreak.
Officially, authorities have confirmed 101 Ebola cases and 10 deaths so far, though WHO officials believe the actual numbers could be significantly higher.
The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17.
The Ebola outbreak has already spread beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo into neighbouring Uganda, where officials have confirmed five cases and one death.
DR Congo Health Minister Roger Kamba said the outbreak remains in its early stages, but the number of infections and deaths continues to rise steadily.
Health authorities have identified approximately 1,000 suspected cases across affected areas. Kamba described the Bundibugyo strain as less deadly than the Zaire strain of Ebola but warned that it still poses a serious public health risk if transmission accelerates.
At present, there is no globally approved vaccine or specific treatment available for the Bundibugyo strain.
According to the WHO, Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that affects humans and other primates. The virus is transmitted to humans through contact with infected wild animals such as fruit bats, porcupines and primates.
Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids, including blood, secretions and contaminated materials like bedding or clothing.
The average fatality rate for Ebola outbreaks is estimated at around 50 per cent, although previous outbreaks have recorded death rates ranging from 25 to 90 per cent.
Ebola was first identified in 1976 during outbreaks in remote villages in Central Africa near tropical rainforests.
The most devastating Ebola epidemic occurred between 2014 and 2016 in West Africa, primarily affecting Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. That outbreak became the largest and most complex Ebola crisis ever recorded, resulting in thousands of deaths and widespread international concern.
(With inputs from IANS)
