Ebola continues to spread in the DRC as 16,000 vaccine doses arrive

More than 16,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine have arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to an AFP journalist. This is part of a total of 70,000 doses that the Democratic Republic of Congo will receive, as announced by the World Health Organization (WHO). The DRC is currently grappling with the deadliest Ebola outbreak in its history, with the 17th outbreak declared on May 15.

The outbreak has predominantly affected regions in the north and east, where state presence is weak and health infrastructure is lacking.

The Ervebo vaccine, developed by Merck, is approved against the Zaire strain of the virus but its effectiveness against the Bundibugyo strain, currently circulating in the DRC, is yet to be confirmed. However, initial data, particularly from animal trials, suggest it may offer some protection. Samuel Roger Kamba, the DRC's Minister of Health, confirmed the vaccine's previous use, notably during the 2018-2020 outbreak.

Of the 70,000 doses, 20,000 are allocated for a clinical trial, while 50,000 are intended for frontline and health workers in the DRC.

The Ebola situation in the DRC has resulted in 2,516 deaths among 5,290 confirmed cases, according to the latest data from Congolese authorities. The outbreak is escalating rapidly, as warned by Julien Harneis, the UN's senior Ebola coordinator. This month, WHO vaccine experts recommended a full-scale human trial of Ervebo to determine if it provides cross-protection against the Bundibugyo strain.

Two vaccines specifically targeting the Bundibugyo strain are currently in clinical trials: one by the US-based group Moderna using mRNA technology, and the other by Britain's University of Oxford. Additionally, an rVSV Bundibugyo vaccine, considered the most promising by WHO, is under development by Singapore-based Hilleman Laboratories.