Congo to Receive 70,000 Doses of FDA-Approved Ebola Vaccine

Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, according to the World Health Organization and partners. The vaccine, which has proven effective in previous Ebola outbreaks, is a significant boost to efforts to contain what officials have called the fastest Ebola outbreak in history. However, the Ervebo vaccine is not licensed for use against the Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for the current outbreak.

Despite this, early laboratory and animal data suggest that the vaccine may provide some protection against the Bundibugyo virus. Out of the 70,000 doses, 20,000 will be used for a Phase 3 clinical trial to assess the vaccine's impact on the Bundibugyo virus. The remaining 50,000 doses will be allocated to front-line and health workers, as recommended by WHO experts.

The outbreak in eastern Congo has already claimed 2,476 lives out of the 5,208 confirmed cases, making it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history. The speed at which the virus is spreading is also concerning, as it is three times faster than the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa, which was the deadliest on record with over 11,000 deaths.

The lack of approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo virus has been a major challenge for responders, and most new cases are being reported outside of the people being monitored, indicating the rapid spread and the strain on surveillance teams.