Health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have begun testing the Ervebo vaccine to see if it provides protection against the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo launched a vaccination program on Saturday to test the efficacy of the Ervebo vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. The study, supported by the World Health Organization and Doctors Without Borders, involves 20,000 frontline health workers in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces. The trial is expected to last up to one year.

Testing against the Bundibugyo strain

The current Ebola epidemic in the region is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists. The Ervebo vaccine was originally developed by Merck to target the Zaire strain of the virus. While animal trials have shown potential for cross-protection, officials emphasize that the vaccine's effectiveness against the Bundibugyo strain remains unknown.

Epidemic status and vaccination rollout

According to official figures, the outbreak has resulted in 7,541 confirmed cases and 3,639 deaths, representing a fatality rate of 48.3%. While the World Health Organization has noted signs that transmission may be slowing, Doctors Without Borders stated on Friday that there is no clear evidence the epidemic is under control. The vaccination effort follows the arrival of 70,000 doses of the vaccine, which were produced in Germany.