Ebola cases top 4,000 in DRC as WHO urges Ervebo vaccine trial
Summary
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has passed 4,000 confirmed cases and continues to spread quickly. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended testing the existing Ebola vaccine, Ervebo, to see if it can protect people against the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which currently has no specific vaccine.Key Facts
- The DRC has reported 4,053 cases of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain, with 1,850 deaths since May.
- The outbreak affects five provinces, with most cases in Ituri province.
- This is the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record.
- Ervebo is the only Ebola vaccine currently approved and is known to work against the Zaire strain.
- Early animal studies suggest Ervebo might protect some against the Bundibugyo strain.
- WHO experts recommend starting full-scale human trials of Ervebo for this strain.
- There are no vaccines specifically for Bundibugyo yet, but three candidates are in development.
- Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, holds 500,000 doses of Ervebo and is supporting the trial efforts in DRC.
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