Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned that restrictions on access to the ERVEBO Ebola vaccine are endangering healthcare workers, frontline responders and vulnerable communities amid the Bundibugyo virus outbreak.

MSF argues that, despite ERVEBO not being designed for the Bundibugyo strain, emerging scientific evidence suggests it may provide partial protection and should be deployed beyond current research protocols.

Deputy director of operations and epidemiologist Guyguy Manangama said the absence of a Bundibugyo‑specific vaccine should not prevent use of the only vaccine currently available, warning that delays leave health workers, contacts of cases and affected communities exposed to a potentially deadly disease.

At present, frontline workers obtain ERVEBO mainly through research protocols or compassionate‑use arrangements, while contacts of confirmed cases rely on ongoing clinical trials, limiting the number of people who can be vaccinated.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Ministry of Health has expanded compassionate‑use access, but supplies remain insufficient; a request for 500,000 doses in August resulted in only 70,000 doses being released.

The organisation notes that ERVEBO is authorised for people aged one year and older, but its use against Bundibugyo remains under investigation, and vaccination alone cannot stop an Ebola outbreak without robust surveillance, testing, contact tracing and treatment.

As of 3 November 2026, the DRC had recorded 10,668 confirmed cases and 5,198 deaths, while Kenya reported nine confirmed cases and two deaths, underscoring the regional risk of spread.