Ebola Outbreak in Eastern DR Congo Claims Over 300 Children; New Vaccine Trials Recommended

Kinshasa: More than 300 children have died in the Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN reported, as health experts called for trials of the only existing vaccine against the rare Bundibugyo species to prevent further spread. According to United Nations, children and women are disproportionately affected by the outbreak in Ituri, the most impacted province. The health crisis is occurring in a region where nearly one million people have been displaced due to conflict, with women and children comprising approximately 80 percent of those affected. The outbreak, which began in mid-May, has resulted in over 300 child fatalities, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) stated. Children account for nearly a quarter of confirmed cases and almost a third of all deaths. The UN also noted that the outbreak is severely disrupting essential healthcare services, with usage dropping by more than 40 percent in the most affected areas due to fear of infection, as reported by UN Deputy Spokespe rson Farhan Haq. This fear, alongside strained health services, prevents many pregnant women from seeking necessary care. The UN's sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, warned of a near doubling of maternal deaths in Ituri since the outbreak began. Approximately six women die each week from childbirth-related complications, and Ebola infection during pregnancy is almost universally fatal for fetuses. Efforts to rebuild community trust are underway, with around 13,000 community workers deployed by the Congolese health ministry and partners, including the Africa CDC, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO). These workers have reached over 2.4 million people with information on Ebola prevention and early detection, conducted more than 500,000 household visits to dispel misinformation, and encouraged early care-seeking behaviors. An expert panel convened by WHO has recommended evaluating a single licensed Ebola vaccine, Ervebo, in a randomized clinical trial for Bundibugyo virus disease. This r ecommendation follows new preliminary animal study data suggesting the vaccine may offer some cross-protection against the Bundibugyo strain, particularly in preventing fatalities. Ervebo is the only licensed vaccine against the main form of Ebola virus disease, known as Ebola Zaire. The WHO convened advisory groups after the Bundibugyo species outbreak in the DRC was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 16. Experts reviewed the vaccine and treatment landscape, initially advising that Ervebo be used only within carefully designed research settings to assess its effectiveness against Bundibugyo virus disease. During a third meeting on July 31, the advisory group reviewed new data indicating that Ervebo may provide some cross-protection against Bundibugyo virus disease in animals, especially in preventing death. They evaluated the vaccine's safety, efficacy, availability, and implementation feasibility, finding no safety concerns for its use among contacts of confirmed cases. Th e advisory group recommended prioritizing Ervebo for inclusion in a randomized clinical trial, given the absence of specific vaccines for Bundibugyo. However, they emphasized that a vaccine specifically developed for Bundibugyo virus would be preferable.