Frontline health workers in Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), received the Ervebo Ebola vaccine on Friday as authorities intensified efforts to contain the country’s growing outbreak.
The vaccine has demonstrated effectiveness in previous outbreaks caused by the Zaire strain of Ebola. However, its ability to protect against the Bundibugyo strain responsible for the current outbreak remains uncertain.
Health authorities believe Ervebo could offer some protection because the two strains are related, but studies are ongoing to establish whether it can prevent illness caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
Stella Nyota, a nurse who received the vaccine, said the injection had given her greater confidence while caring for patients.
“I’m happy to have received it because I know it gives me some reassurance since I’m always around patients,” she said.
The vaccine is being administered under a compassionate-use programme, which permits the use of a medical product in serious disease situations even when it has not been specifically approved for that particular indication.
Despite the absence of a licensed vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, health officials say supportive medical care can improve patients’ chances of survival.
Dr Mohamed Janabi, the World Health Organisation’s regional director for Africa, said patients could receive interventions such as blood transfusions, oxygen and antibiotics, depending on their conditions.
“Yes, we don’t have vaccines, we don’t have licensed therapeutics, but we have life-supporting services,” he said, adding that treatment could improve survival prospects.
Janabi also disclosed that 2,400 people had survived Ebola during the current, 17th outbreak in the country.
According to government figures cited in the report, the DRC had recorded 9,066 confirmed cases and 4,381 deaths as of Wednesday.
The outbreak, concentrated in Ituri Province, has raised serious concerns among health authorities because of its scale and the difficulties facing containment efforts.
Insecurity, population displacement, a strike by health workers and extensive population movements have complicated efforts to control transmission and deliver medical assistance.
The World Health Organisation has warned that the outbreak remains out of control and could surpass the 2014–2016 West African Ebola epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 people, primarily in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
In August, the WHO announced that 70,000 doses of Ervebo had been approved for use in the DRC.
Of the available doses, approximately 50,000 were earmarked for frontline and healthcare workers, while the remaining 20,000 were allocated to a clinical trial examining whether the vaccine offers protection against the Bundibugyo strain.
The current outbreak presents a significant challenge because there is no licensed vaccine or specific approved treatment for the strain involved, making surveillance, infection prevention, supportive care and scientific research critical to the response.
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