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

Congo initiated an Ebola vaccination campaign on Thursday to combat its worst outbreak on record, according to Health Minister Roger Kamba. The vaccination effort commenced in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province in the eastern part of the country. Health workers and individuals directly involved in the Ebola response are the primary recipients of the vaccine.

Kamba explained that the decision to use the Ervebo vaccine was made to prioritize those on the frontlines, including health care providers, as well as individuals who have been in contact with patients. Currently, the outbreak has spread across six provinces in Congo, namely Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut-Uele, and Bas-Uele.

As of Tuesday, the country had reported 5,713 confirmed cases and 2,744 deaths, resulting in a mortality rate of approximately 48%. The epidemic's progression is being exacerbated by insecurity, displacement, a strike by health workers, and significant population movements in the region. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that the outbreak remains uncontrolled and is projected to surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which was the deadliest with over 11,000 deaths primarily in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Congo has received over 50,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, with 50,000 allocated for frontline workers and health personnel, and 20,000 for a clinical trial to investigate whether the vaccine safeguards against Bundibugyo Ebola, the specific strain responsible for the current outbreak. Ervebo is approved to protect against Zaire ebolavirus, a different variant, and its efficacy against Bundibugyo Ebola is being studied under a compassionate-use program.

Health authorities expressed optimism that the vaccine could provide some level of protection against Bundibugyo Ebola due to their related nature, although further research is required to determine its effectiveness in preventing illness caused by the Bundibugyo virus.