KINSHASA, DR CONGO / RankWire.AI / – The Democratic Republic of the Congo has obtained a quota of 70,000 Ebola vaccine doses as the Bundibugyo outbreak continues to grow. As of Aug. 18, health officials reported 5,208 confirmed cases and 2,476 fatalities. The epidemic now impacts 56 health zones spread across six provinces. Additionally, 1,115 recoveries have been documented, while 730 patients remain in isolation or hospitalized, with response teams actively working in affected communities in eastern and northeastern DR Congo.
Following a request from the Congolese government, the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision approved the release of these doses. The WHO announced that 20,000 Ervebo doses will be used to support a Phase 3 clinical trial involving Bundibugyo virus disease, while the remaining 50,000 doses will be allocated to protect frontline and healthcare workers according to current vaccination strategies. This allocation, announced on Aug. 20, was welcomed by WHO and Africa CDC. The doses are supplied from the global Ebola vaccine stockpile, which is designated for emergency responses in outbreaks requiring swift vaccine access.
Ervebo is approved for diseases caused by Ebola virus, formerly known as Zaire ebolavirus. However, it does not have specific approval for Bundibugyo virus disease. Laboratory and animal studies suggest possible cross-protection, yet evidence in humans remains unconfirmed. The upcoming clinical trial aims to gather data during the ongoing outbreak, assessing the vaccine’s efficacy against Bundibugyo virus disease under controlled conditions. Health officials will also need to communicate known risks, potential benefits, and the limitations of existing evidence to individuals receiving the vaccine.
Spread of Cases Across Multiple Provinces
The initial outbreak was identified in Mongbwalu health zone in Ituri Province, where authorities confirmed Bundibugyo virus disease in May. Subsequently, cases emerged in North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, Tshopo, and Bas-Uele. By Aug. 12, WHO reported 4,665 cases and 2,184 deaths across 54 health zones. Updates released afterward increased these figures to 5,208 cases and 2,476 fatalities, with the number of affected zones rising to 56, indicating ongoing transmission across several interconnected regions.
This is now the largest Ebola outbreak recorded in DR Congo. WHO characterized the transmission as intense, with new cases continuing across various provinces. Challenges such as insecurity, displacement, and frequent population movement have hindered surveillance and access to health services. Attacks on health facilities have further complicated response efforts in some areas. Response teams are actively tracing contacts, identifying new cases, expanding treatment facilities, and organizing safe burials. Meanwhile, authorities are bolstering clinical care, improving surveillance, and supporting response teams across the six affected provinces.
Funding Supports Vaccine Distribution and Outbreak Mitigation
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has allocated $7 million to facilitate the shipment of 70,000 Ervebo doses to DR Congo. An additional $6 million has been committed through Gavi’s First Response Fund to assist in safeguarding routine immunization services and preparing for Ebola vaccination activities. The International Coordinating Group oversees emergency vaccine distributions with backing from partner organizations, including WHO, UNICEF, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and Médecins Sans Frontières.
The outbreak was officially declared by Congolese authorities on May 15 following laboratory confirmation of Bundibugyo virus disease. Since there is no licensed vaccine or specific approved treatment for this strain, supportive medical care, early detection, and rapid isolation remain vital components of the response. WHO continues to provide assistance with surveillance, clinical management, supplies, contact tracing, and community engagement. The 70,000-dose allocation will serve a dual purpose: to vaccinate healthcare workers and to support a clinical research initiative aimed at evaluating Ervebo’s effectiveness against Bundibugyo virus disease.