Congo began vaccinating individuals against Ebola on Thursday in an effort to contain the fastest-growing outbreak of the disease globally. Health workers and other frontline responders are being prioritized to receive the Ervebo vaccine, which has proven effective in previous Ebola outbreaks caused by a different, more common strain.
Health Minister Roger Kamba announced the vaccination campaign's launch in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province. "We have decided to use the Ervebo vaccine to protect first those who are on the front line," Kamba stated. The campaign is expected to cover 14 health zones across Tshopo, Bas-Uele, and Haut-Uele provinces.
As of Tuesday, Congo had recorded 5,713 confirmed cases of Ebola, resulting in 2,744 deaths, according to government figures. The current outbreak is primarily concentrated in Ituri province and is considered the deadliest of all 17 previous Ebola outbreaks in the country. The World Health Organization has described the outbreak as remaining out of control, fueled by challenging conditions including insecurity, displacement of populations, a strike among health workers, and significant population movements. The organization has indicated that it is on track to surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which was the deadliest on record with over 11,000 fatalities, mainly in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
More than 50,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine have arrived in Congo, with an additional 70,000 doses approved for use, according to Congo's state news agency and the World Health Organization. Approximately 50,000 doses are designated for frontline and health workers. The remaining 20,000 doses will be utilized in a clinical trial to assess the vaccine's efficacy against the Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for the current outbreak and for which no licensed vaccine or treatment currently exists.
The Ervebo vaccine is being administered under a compassionate-use program. This program permits the use of a medical product in situations involving serious diseases, even if it has not been specifically approved for that particular condition. Health authorities believe Ervebo may offer some protection against the Bundibugyo virus due to their relatedness, though research is ongoing to confirm its effectiveness in preventing illness caused by this specific strain. Data collected during the vaccination campaign will be used to measure the vaccine's performance, according to Placide Mbala Kingebeni, Africa CDC's director for research, clinical trials, and innovation. Kamba urged health workers to receive the vaccine, emphasizing its potential to protect them and reduce the risk of them transmitting the virus within their communities.