70,000 Ebola vaccines released to DRC as Bundibugyo outbreak persists

By Chioma Obinna The Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, has secured an initial 70,000 doses of Ervebo vaccine from the global Ebola vaccine stockpile as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the ongoing Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak. The release followed a request by the DRC government to the Internat

WHO said in a statement that while it's not known whether Ervebo may protect against the Bundibugyo virus, "early laboratory and animal data suggest it may provide some protection."

The outbreak raging in six provinces in eastern Congo has infected and killed more people at a greater speed than any other Ebola outbreak in history.

The Ervebo vaccine is licensed for use against Ebola virus, one of the viruses that cause Ebola disease, but not for Bundibugyo virus.

WHO experts say early evidence, including animal studies, suggests Ervebo could offer some protection—and the new trial will seek to establish whether that protection extends to humans.

The outbreak raging in six provinces in eastern Congo has infected and killed more people at a greater speed than any other Ebola outbreak in history.

The International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision, which includes the WHO and other partners, said the doses will be released immediately following a request from DR Congo’s government.

Congo to receive 70,000 doses of Ervebo Ebola vaccine which has been effective in past outbreaks  AP News

Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine, which has been effective in past Ebola outbreaks, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners said Thursday, announcing a step seen as a major boost to efforts to contain what officials have described as the fastest Ebola outbreak in history.

The World Health Organization says Congo will receive 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine

Congo set to receive 70,000 Ervebo vaccines to contain Ebola outbreak, WHO says  Reuters

Eve Irvine is pleased to welcome WHO Spokesperson Tarik Jašarević. His central concern is that we do not yet know where all the places the Ebola virus is circulating: infected people remain outside treatment centres, transmission chains go undetected, and patients who seek care too late face much poorer chances of surv