The World Health Organization (WHO) has allocated 70,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), targeting the ongoing Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in eastern Congo.
According to WHO statements, the DRC government requested an immediate release of the vaccine from the global stockpile managed by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG) last week. The allocation includes 20,000 doses for a Phase 3 clinical trial assessing Ervebo’s impact on Bundibugyo virus and 50,000 doses for frontline health workers and communities, consistent with WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) recommendations.
The current outbreak has claimed 2,476 lives out of 5,208 confirmed cases. It is spreading at a rate three times faster than the previous Ebola outbreaks in West Africa during 2014-2016, which resulted in over 11,000 deaths. Responders report that most new cases are being reported outside monitored populations, indicating rapid transmission and significant pressure on surveillance teams to keep pace.
WHO emphasizes that it remains unknown whether Ervebo provides protection against Bundibugyo virus in humans, though early laboratory studies suggest potential benefits. The ongoing clinical trial aims to deliver critical evidence for future policy decisions.
The International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision (ICG) partners include the WHO, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières, and UNICEF, with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, providing funding for the stockpile.
United Nations Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reported that humanitarian agencies are warning of continued outbreak spread as authorities intensify response efforts. The DRC government has launched the “Congo River Without Ebola” initiative to bolster disease surveillance and preparedness with UN support.
The outbreak was declared in mid-May but experts suspect it began as early as February.
