Moscow Develops Ebola Shot Against Rare Congo Strain

In a move that could reshape the global response to the ongoing Ebola crisis, Moscow says its scientists have produced a vaccine effective against the Bundibugyo strain ravaging parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The claim was relayed through the Russian embassy in South Africa and confirmed by Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, who highlighted the vaccine’s potential to protect against a variant for which no approved immunization previously existed. The outbreak, which began gaining momentum in mid-May, has already prompted the WHO to declare a public health emergency after more than 900 suspected cases and 220 suspected deaths surfaced. Confirmed figures stand at 101 cases and ten deaths, although authorities acknowledge that real numbers are likely far higher. Congo’s Health Minister Roger Kamba stressed that the epidemic is still in its initial stages but warned that daily increases in infections remain a serious concern. The Bundibugyo strain, while considered less deadly than the Zaire type, can still cause catastrophic outcomes if left unchecked. Uganda’s emergence of five confirmed cases and one fatality further complicates containment. Medical teams are now racing to deploy the new Russian vaccine alongside strengthened surveillance and contact tracing across affected provinces.