Congo begins Ebola vaccinations to fight country’s worst outbreak on record, health minister says

Congo has initiated vaccinations against Ebola in an effort to combat the country's most severe outbreak ever recorded. Health authorities are employing the Ervebo vaccine, which has shown efficacy in previous outbreaks caused by a different, more prevalent variant. Health Minister Roger Kamba announced that health workers and other frontline personnel are being prioritized for the vaccine.

As of Tuesday, the country had confirmed 5,713 cases of Ebola, resulting in 2,744 fatalities. This outbreak, primarily located in Ituri province, is the deadliest of the 17 Ebola outbreaks recorded in Congo. Despite the challenges posed by insecurity, displacement, a health workers' strike, and population movements, the World Health Organization estimates that the current outbreak has the potential to surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which was the deadliest on record, claiming over 11,000 lives primarily in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Approximately 50,000 doses of Ervebo have been received by Congo, with 70,000 doses approved for use and 20,000 doses reserved for a clinical trial to investigate the vaccine's effectiveness against the Bundibugyo virus responsible for the current outbreak.