DRC Battles Largest Ebola Outbreak in History as Vaccine Efforts Begin

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing the largest and most deadly Ebola outbreak in its history, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus strain. Since the outbreak was declared on 15 May, reports on the scale of the crisis vary slightly. The Congolese government reported 5,290 confirmed cases and 2,516 deaths, while the World Health Organization reported 4,665 cases and 2,184 deaths as of 12 August. The virus has spread across six provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, driven by population movement, insecurity, and cross border travel involving South Sudan and Uganda.

In response, the DRC has received 70,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine. Because Ervebo is licensed for the Zaire species of Ebola and not the Bundibugyo strain, its effectiveness is uncertain. Consequently, 20,000 doses will be used in a Phase III clinical trial to test its efficacy against the Bundibugyo virus, while 50,000 doses will be given to frontline health workers. Meanwhile, the University of Oxford has begun a Phase I trial for a new vaccine, ChAdOx1 BDBV, which was specifically designed to target the Bundibugyo virus.

Médicos Sin Fronteras (MSF) has warned that the epidemic is spreading faster than the capacity to respond. The organization reports that over 60 percent of deaths have occurred outside of treatment centers, often due to community distrust and disinformation that has led to attacks on medical professionals. MSF emphasizes that while treatment centers are essential, the response must be reinforced through community involvement and better training for local leaders to improve case detection and prevention.