Ebola vaccine trial to start in DR Congo as warning issued over speed of infections
Summary
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is starting a trial of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine to see if it works against the Bundibugyo type of Ebola causing the current outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that Ebola cases are spreading very fast in the country, and nearly 2,500 people have died so far.Key Facts
- The Ervebo vaccine protects against the Zaïre Ebola species but has not been proven for Bundibugyo species.
- About 20,000 vaccine doses will be used in a trial to test effectiveness against Bundibugyo.
- Another 50,000 doses will be given to health workers on the front lines.
- Ebola infections have rapidly increased, covering an area larger than France.
- Nearly 2,500 deaths have occurred during this outbreak, the deadliest in DR Congo’s history.
- The outbreak may have begun as early as February but was initially mistaken for other diseases like typhoid.
- Conflict and mistrust in some areas have made it hard for health teams to control the disease spread.
- The M23 rebel group has restricted movement between areas to slow the Ebola spread and declared parts of their territory Ebola-free.
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