Congo Launches Ervebo Ebola Vaccine Campaign to Fight Outbreak

Congo launched its Ebola vaccination campaign in Kisangani on Thursday to combat the nation’s worst recorded epidemic, which has recorded 5,713 confirmed cases and 2,744 deaths. Health officials are deploying the Ervebo vaccine to frontline workers under a compassionate-use program while managing a severe outbreak driven by the Bundibugyo virus strain.

Launching the Ervebo Vaccination Campaign in Tshopo Province

Health authorities officially launched the vaccination drive in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province, targeting healthcare workers and first responders operating in high-risk zones across eastern the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Roger Kamba, Health Minister

Health Minister Roger Kamba said, We have decided to use the Ervebo vaccine to protect first those who are on the front line, therefore our health care providers, but also people who have been in contact with patients. State news agencies report that the country has received more than 50,000 doses of the vaccine. The World Health Organization said last week that 70,000 doses of Ervebo had been approved for use in Congo. About 50,000 doses are intended for frontline and health workers, while another 20,000 will be used in a clinical trial to study whether the vaccine protects against Bundibugyo Ebola, the agency said.

Congo Launches Ervebo Ebola Vaccine Campaign to Fight Outbreak — Photo: World Health Organization (WHO)

Strain Mismatch and Clinical Trial Strategy

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo type of Ebola virus, which has no approved vaccines or treatments. Ervebo, however, is approved to protect against a different type, known as Zaire ebolavirus. Congo to receive 70,000 doses of Ervebo Ebola vaccine, which was effective in past outbreaks.

Outbreak Severity and Humanitarian Strain

As of Tuesday, the country had recorded 5,713 confirmed cases, including 2,744 deaths, according to government figures. The overall death rate among confirmed cases was about 48%. More than 2,500 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak, which is spreading “out of control”, Médecins Sans Frontières has warned. Congo’s 17th Ebola epidemic became the biggest in the country’s history in terms of the number of cases in late July, surpassing the previous worst outbreak in 2018 to 2020. Project coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) Jacob Burns said the outbreak is “out of control. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said it is thefastest moving Ebola epidemic that we’ve seen.” “In the first 100 days of this outbreak, we saw so many cases… compared to the outbreak in West Africa, which was the biggest up until now, but that outbreak only had a quarter of the number of cases that we’re seeing in the Democratic Republic of Congo,he said. Mr Burns said the outbreak ismoving very rapidly, having spread across multiple parts of the DRC.It has spread to six provinces, including provinces that weren’t touched in the last big epidemic here in 2018 to 2020 and what we’re seeing is that the epidemic is unfortunately out of control,” he said. Mr Burns said recent conflict in the country means it can be difficult to move into areas where transmission is ongoing and that, apart from Ebola, other challenges persist. The outbreak has so far affected six provinces in Congo, including Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut-Uele and Bas-Uele. The outbreak in eastern Congo is spreading under extremely difficult conditions, fueled by insecurity, displacement, a health workers’ strike and intense population movements. The World Health Organization has said it remains out of control and is on track to surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, the deadliest on record, which killed more than 11,000 people, primarily in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

International Appeals and Emergency Recommendations

The outbreak has spread rapidly across a vast area of the central African country and is causing a record number of infections and deaths, according to United Nations officials. In my prayers, I often remember the Democratic Republic of the Congo, particularly in light of the spread of the Ebola epidemic, which is sadly claiming many lives, the pontiff told pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s square for his weekly Sunday prayer. I urge the international community to respond in a way that also involves local communities in prevention efforts to save as many lives as possible, he said. On 18 August 2026, the Emergency Committee regarding the epidemic of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo met for the second time to reassess the situation, in line with International Health Regulations (2005). The Director-General, considering the advice of the Committee, issued the following updated temporary recommendations for States Parties. The recommendations for the Democratic Republic of the Congo provide more detailed guidance on surveillance, case detection and investigation, infection prevention and control, clinical care, risk communication and community engagement than those previously issued, and include a new section on social measures, mass gatherings and domestic mobility. All current WHO interim technical guidance can be accessed on this page of the WHO website. WHO evidence-based guidance has been and will continue to be updated in line with the evolving situation, updated scientific evidence, and WHO risk assessment.