A Ten Year Analysis of Ebola Outbreaks and Approved Vaccines

The WHO has declared Ebola outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The new Bundibugyo strain of Ebola escalates quickly causing clotting dysfunction and internal hemorrhaging. Ebola has been cyclical in nature and DRC has been the most affected in the last 10 years. Major Ebola Outbreaks, By Country, 2016–2026 Period Country Outbreak Activity Key Details 1. 2016: Post West Africa outbreak phase Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia (residual) Low-level flare-ups Small “flare cases” from survivors of the 2014–16 epidemic; no major new epidemic 2. 2017: Early DRC outbreaks DRC Localized outbreaks Small, quickly contained rural outbreaks; no widespread transmission 3. 2018–2020: Major DRC epidemic DRC (North Kivu, Ituri) Large epidemic One of the largest Ebola outbreaks ever; conflict zones + urban spread risk (Goma threat); ended with vaccination 4. 2021: Multiple small outbreaks DRC, Guinea Recurrent small outbreaks Several short outbreaks; Guinea outbreak linked to survivor transmission; rapid containment via vaccines 5. 2022: Uganda outbreak (Sudan strain) Uganda Moderate outbreak Sudan ebolavirus outbreak; multiple districts affected; contained in early 2023; no approved vaccine at the time 6. 2023–2025: Sporadic flare-ups DRC Low-level activity Isolated cases and small clusters only; no large regional epidemic 7. 2026: Current outbreak (ongoing) DRC, Uganda Active multi-country outbreak Bundibugyo strain outbreak in Ituri (DRC) with cross-border spread to Uganda; declared a PHEIC with rising suspected cases and deaths Studies are underway to pinpoint the exact origin and transmission of this widespreading virus. The Zaire strain could be contained through vaccines, though the current one is more fatal. Approved Vaccines for Ebola Vaccine Name Developer Dose Schedule Ebola Strain Covered Approval Status Key Use Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV) Merck (MSD) Single-dose Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) FDA-approved (2019), WHO-prequalified Primary outbreak response vaccine; used in ring vaccination during outbreaks Zabdeno + Mvabea (Ad26.ZEBOV + MVA-BN-Filo) Johnson & Johnson 2-dose regimen Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) EMA-approved (EU), WHO-recognized Preventive vaccination (pre-exposure protection for at-risk populations) A major concern still lurks, because there is no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain. Research is still underway to understand the origin of the cyclical nature of Ebola and expand the access to existing vaccines, along with developing effective vaccines for newer strains.