The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently facing an escalating Ebola epidemic, with the latest figures confirming over 2,000 lives lost. This devastating outbreak, impacting various eastern and northeastern regions of the country, is now recognized as the most extensive Ebola crisis ever recorded within the DRC’s borders. It stands as critical Africa breaking news, highlighting the ongoing health challenges in the region.

Over 4,300 confirmed cases reported

Congolese health authorities have reported a grim total of 2,011 fatalities from 4,381 confirmed cases, indicating a high mortality rate of 45.9%. Originating in the northeastern Ituri province, the disease has since spread to several other areas, including Nord-Kivu. These affected regions are often plagued by ongoing conflicts and possess extremely fragile healthcare infrastructure, complicating response efforts. This current surge in cases and deaths is now approaching the scale of the 2018-2020 epidemic, which claimed nearly 2,300 lives and was previously the most deadly in the DRC’s history.

Existing vaccine under evaluation for current variant

The present outbreak is attributed to the Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus, for which no specific vaccine has yet received full regulatory approval. However, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) recently advised conducting a clinical trial for Ervebo, the only licensed Ebola vaccine, to assess its efficacy against the Bundibugyo strain. They emphasized that the substantial safety data already available for Ervebo supports proceeding directly to a large-scale Phase 3 trial. 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 vaccine candidates in development

Beyond Ervebo, other potential vaccine candidates targeting the Bundibugyo variant are also under investigation. Canada has granted authorization for Moderna to initiate clinical trials for its experimental vaccine. Furthermore, Hilleman Laboratories and the University of Oxford are actively developing two additional candidates. In response to the severe scope of the epidemic, the United States has pledged an additional aid package exceeding $242 million to bolster the fight against Ebola across the Democratic Republic of Congo. This reflects significant international engagement in African current affairs related to public health.

By Mariama Hamani — Analyst