Government launches Ebola vaccination campaign as unprecedented outbreak spreads
The Democratic Republic of Congo has begun an emergency Ebola vaccination campaign as health authorities intensify efforts to contain an outbreak that is spreading rapidly across parts of the country. The campaign initially prioritises health workers and others on the frontline of the response, who face some of the highest risks of exposure.
The vaccination drive is being carried out with Ervebo, a vaccine that has previously been used against a different and more common strain of Ebola. More than 50,000 doses have arrived in Congo, while additional doses have been approved for the response. However, researchers are still conducting clinical trials to develop and assess a licensed vaccine specifically targeting the strain responsible for the current outbreak.
Government figures showed that, as of Tuesday, Congo had recorded 5,713 confirmed Ebola cases and 2,744 deaths. The outbreak has spread to six provinces, with the highest concentration reported in Ituri. Health authorities are facing significant challenges as insecurity, population displacement, movement across affected areas and a strike by health workers complicate efforts to identify cases, trace contacts and provide treatment.
The scale and speed of the outbreak have raised international concern, with the World Health Organization warning that it remains out of control and could eventually surpass the 2014–2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which claimed more than 11,000 lives. For Congo, the immediate challenge is to use every available tool to protect frontline workers and slow transmission while scientists work to establish a vaccine capable of directly addressing the strain driving the current crisis.
