The ongoing outbreak of Bundibugyo Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is causing alarm among experts, who warn that a vaccine may be the only hope to bring the epidemic to an end. Nicole Lurie, executive director of preparedness and response at the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, describes this as the most frightening outbreak she has ever seen, barring the global pandemic of Covid-19.

More than 7,000 people have contracted the virus since May, with around half of them dying. The rapid growth of the outbreak, coupled with ongoing violence displacing millions, has made contact tracing a daunting task, and locals have attacked Red Cross volunteers and delayed safe burial teams, making the situation even more challenging.

To address this crisis, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has redirected $100 million to develop a vaccine. Scientists at the Serum Institute of India are already manufacturing doses of the Oxford University’s ChAdOx1 BDBV vaccine at record speed, with Moderna’s vaccine candidate also in the pipeline. However, the success of these efforts remains uncertain, as vaccine mistrust in the community could thwart their effectiveness.

Despite the challenges, the absence of a global lockdown and the ongoing work of global responder organizations like the CDC provide some hope. However, the US government's cuts to foreign aid have left responders with a shortage of basic medical equipment, further complicating the crisis. The DRC's instability and vaccine distrust may prove to be the most significant hurdles in containing the outbreak.