Ebola-hit DR Congo gets 70,000 doses of Ervebo vaccine

The Democratic Republic of Congo has received 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, according to a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO). The vaccine, which has been proven safe and effective against the Zaire strain of Ebola, is being released for use in the country's deadly outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain, the less common version of the virus.

The outbreak, declared on May 15, has recorded over 5,000 cases and more than 2,300 deaths since its onset, making it the deadliest Ebola outbreak in the country's history. DR Congo had requested the vaccine last week, after the number of cases and deaths surpassed alarming levels. The 70,000 doses include 20,000 for a Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the vaccine's impact on the Bundibugyo virus, and 50,000 for front-line healthcare workers.

This allocation aligns with the recommendations of the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE). The DRC outbreak, which has been spreading for weeks before the official declaration, is particularly dangerous due to its location in regions with weak state presence, poor health infrastructure, and the presence of armed groups for decades.

Ebola spreads through contact with bodily fluids and causes a severe hemorrhagic fever, having claimed over 15,000 lives in Africa over the past 50 years. Despite no approved vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, the Ervebo vaccine, known for its safety and success against the Zaire strain, is being used in a full-scale human trial to determine if it offers cross-protection.