DR Congo to receive 70,000 doses of Ervebo vaccine as Ebola infections surge
Summary
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine to help fight its biggest Ebola outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) said some doses will be used in a study to see if the vaccine works against the Bundibugyo virus, which is causing this outbreak and has no approved vaccine yet.Key Facts
- The DRC is experiencing its largest Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
- So far, there are 5,208 confirmed cases and 2,476 deaths.
- The Ervebo vaccine is approved for one type of Ebola virus but not for Bundibugyo.
- 20,000 doses will be used in a late-stage trial to test if Ervebo protects against Bundibugyo.
- The other 50,000 doses will be given to frontline and health workers.
- Gavi, a global vaccine alliance, is funding shipping and vaccination efforts with $13 million total.
- WHO calls the outbreak a global emergency and says more efforts are underway to control it.
- The Congolese government started a program called “Congo River Without Ebola” to strengthen monitoring and response.
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