Kinshasa: DR Congo has received a shipment of 70,000 Ebola vaccine doses as the Bundibugyo strain outbreak continues to spread. The Ervebo vaccine shipment follows approval from the International Coordinating Group (ICG) after the Congolese government requested doses from the global Ebola vaccine stockpile last week. According to United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the allocation of vaccines but noted it remains uncertain if the Ervebo vaccine, originally developed for the Zaire ebolavirus, will be effective against the Bundibugyo strain. Early data suggests potential protection, and the forthcoming clinical trial aims to provide evidence to guide future vaccine use. The ICG has allocated 20,000 doses for a clinical trial in DR Congo, with the remaining 50,000 doses designated for health workers. Some local residents in affected areas may receive the vaccine outside the trial, with severe side effects reported as rare in clinical trials. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyes us recognized this as a significant act of global solidarity. The ongoing outbreak, declared on May 15, has resulted in 2,325 deaths, making it the deadliest in the country's history. As of Wednesday, the total number of cases reached 5,021. Over 160 health workers have contracted the virus, with 40 fatalities reported, according to UN Senior Ebola Coordinator Julien Harneis. Efforts to contain the virus have been hindered by conflict in eastern DR Congo, involving the Congolese government and the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group, among others. This conflict has obstructed medical teams, led to the closure of health centers, and displaced thousands, complicating contact tracing and safe burials. News reports indicate that the M23 armed group is attempting to establish its own Ebola response, including a health administration to oversee labs and conduct disease surveillance. The group announced it will suspend shared taxi and boat trips to and from affected areas to curb the virus's spread. The UN has sanction ed M23 for committing atrocities against civilians. The ICG, responsible for managing emergency vaccine supplies, allocated 56,000 Ervebo doses to address multiple Ebola outbreaks in DR Congo from 2021 to 2026. In a post on X, UN Senior Ebola Coordinator Harneis expressed optimism about the vaccine allocation, highlighting its importance for frontline health workers and affected communities.
