DR Congo to receive 70,000 Ebola vaccine doses as outbreak intensifies

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is set to receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine as authorities and international health agencies step up efforts to contain the country's largest Ebola outbreak.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said the doses have been allocated from the global Ebola vaccine stockpile. Of the total shipment, 20,000 doses will be used in a late-stage clinical trial examining whether Ervebo can provide protection against the Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for the current outbreak.

The outbreak has so far resulted in 2,476 deaths from 5,208 confirmed cases, according to health authorities.

Ervebo is licensed to protect against the Zaire species of Ebola virus, but it has not been approved for use against Bundibugyo virus.

The WHO said it remains unknown whether Ervebo can protect people from Bundibugyo infection, making the planned clinical trial particularly important.

"No vaccine or specific treatment has been approved for the Bundibugyo virus," the WHO said, highlighting the need for evidence from clinical research.

The Congolese government requested the release of vaccine doses last week through the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision, which coordinates emergency vaccine supplies.

The remaining 50,000 doses will be administered to frontline health workers and other healthcare personnel, following recommendations from the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization.

Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, said it would contribute $7m to cover the cost of transporting the vaccines to the DRC. It will also provide a further $6m to support vaccination campaigns in areas considered to be at particularly high risk.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said earlier this week that the Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC continues to constitute a global health emergency.

The United Nations also warned that the disease continues to spread as national authorities and humanitarian organisations work to strengthen the response.

UN Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the government and its partners were expanding operations around five key priorities.

These include tripling the capacity for safe medical care, strengthening engagement with affected communities, doubling the number of teams conducting safe and dignified burials, expanding disease surveillance and increasing assistance for vulnerable populations.

The Congolese government, working alongside the UN and other international partners, has also launched the "Congo River Without Ebola" initiative. The programme aims to reinforce disease surveillance, improve preparedness and accelerate efforts to contain transmission.

The current outbreak was officially declared in mid-May, although some experts believe infections may have begun as early as February.

With thousands of confirmed cases and deaths continuing to rise, health authorities are racing to expand treatment, vaccination, surveillance and community-based measures to prevent the outbreak from spreading further.