DRC Receives Initial Ebola Vaccine Shipment Amid Deadly Outbreak

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has taken delivery of the first shipment of Ebola vaccine doses, intensifying efforts to combat the ongoing outbreak that has claimed more than 2,500 lives.

On Friday, 16,520 doses of the Ervebo vaccine arrived at N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, the capital. The Ministry of Health announced that a total of 50,120 doses are expected to be received between August 21 and 24.

Vaccine Deployment and Trials

• The World Health Organization and Africa CDC confirmed the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision approved an initial release of 70,000 Ervebo doses following a government request.
• Of these, 20,000 doses will be allocated to a Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate the vaccine's effectiveness against the Bundibugyo virus, which is responsible for the current outbreak.
• The remaining 50,000 doses will be used to vaccinate frontline and healthcare workers.

While Ervebo is licensed for outbreaks caused by the Zaire ebolavirus, its efficacy against the Bundibugyo strain remains uncertain.

Outbreak Status

As of August 19, the Ministry of Health reported 5,290 confirmed Ebola cases and 2,516 deaths, yielding a case fatality rate of nearly 48%. This outbreak, declared on May 15, is the deadliest in DRC's history and the second largest globally.

Transmission continues actively across the country, prompting urgent vaccination and prevention initiatives.