The ongoing Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has now resulted in more than 2,000 fatalities. This grim milestone was confirmed by the latest official figures released on Tuesday. The current health crisis, affecting various provinces across the country’s eastern and northeastern regions, is recognized as the most severe Ebola outbreak ever recorded within the DRC.
Over 4,300 confirmed infections
According to data released by Congolese health authorities on Tuesday, the epidemic has claimed 2,011 lives from a total of 4,381 confirmed cases. This indicates a concerning mortality rate of 45.9%. Originating in the northeastern province of Ituri, the disease has since spread to several other provinces, notably Nord-Kivu. These areas are frequently destabilized by conflicts and possess extremely fragile healthcare infrastructure. The current outbreak’s death toll is now nearing that of the 2018-2020 epidemic, which was previously the deadliest in the DRC, resulting in nearly 2,300 fatalities.
Existing vaccine evaluated for current variant
The present outbreak is attributed to the Bundibugyo variant of Ebola, for which no vaccine has yet received regulatory approval. Last Friday, World Health Organization (WHO) experts recommended the clinical testing of Ervebo, the only vaccine currently licensed for Ebola, in a clinical trial. They highlighted the extensive safety data available for Ervebo, suggesting that a large-scale Phase 3 trial could be directly pursued. The Gavi Vaccine Alliance is prepared to supply doses from its global Ervebo stockpile, which holds approximately 500,000 doses. This vaccine is manufactured by the American pharmaceutical company, Merck.
Multiple vaccines under development
In addition to Ervebo’s evaluation, several other vaccine candidates are being investigated specifically for the Bundibugyo variant. Canada has granted authorization for Moderna to commence clinical trials for its Ebola vaccine. Furthermore, two other promising candidates are under development by Hilleman Laboratories and the University of Oxford. Recognizing the severe scale of the epidemic, the United States has pledged over $242 million in additional aid to bolster the fight against Ebola in the DRC.
