Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Epicentre, its epidemiology research center, have launched the BRAVO study, a large prospective study on the vaccination of frontline healthcare workers against the Ebola Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The study aims to document and evaluate the use of the ERVEBO vaccine, which is currently the only vaccine available on a large scale. Although ERVEBO is approved against the Zaire virus, not the Bundibugyo strain, preliminary data suggest it may offer some protection.
The BRAVO study, launched on September 19, 2026, at the World Health Organization (WHO) training center in Bunia, will run for six months, with three months dedicated to vaccination. The study targets 20,000 frontline workers in Ituri and North Kivu, populations particularly exposed to the virus and essential to the response against the epidemic. The study will generate real-world data on the use and potential effectiveness of the vaccine in an outbreak setting.
The ERVEBO vaccine has been approved by several regulatory authorities, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency, and the World Health Organization. Although it was not initially developed to protect against the Bundibugyo virus, preliminary data suggest it may offer some degree of protection. MSF's goal is to demonstrate the potential benefits of the vaccine scientifically.
The study is being conducted in collaboration with the DRC Ministry of Health, Africa CDC, and several scientific partners. According to Guyguy Manangama, MSF epidemiologist and deputy operations director, "even if the vaccine offers partial protection, it could help reduce severe cases and deaths." The study's findings will inform the response to the ongoing epidemic.
Participation in the study and vaccine administration are based on voluntarism. The vaccination is considered a complementary protection measure that can strengthen the response to the epidemic but does not replace proven infection prevention and control measures. The study's results will contribute to the development of effective strategies to combat the epidemic.
The epidemic has recently spread to a seventh province, and North Kivu has recorded an unprecedented outbreak of cases. MSF emphasizes that the ERVEBO vaccine will not end the current epidemic but can offer additional protection to the most exposed personnel and help strengthen response capacities.
Several vaccines specifically developed against the Bundibugyo virus are under development and may become available in the coming months. MSF stresses that accelerating research efforts remains essential, and the BRAVO study is an important step in this direction. The study's findings will inform the use of ERVEBO as a transitional measure to support the response to the epidemic.
Key points
- The BRAVO study aims to evaluate the use of the ERVEBO vaccine against the Ebola Bundibugyo strain in frontline healthcare workers in the DRC.
- The study targets 20,000 frontline workers in Ituri and North Kivu and will run for six months.
- The ERVEBO vaccine has been approved by several regulatory authorities, including the US FDA, European Medicines Agency, and World Health Organization.
