Congo Starts Ebola Vaccinations With 50,000 Doses as Outbreak Reaches 5,713 Cases
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 28
Congo Starts Ebola Vaccinations With 50,000 Doses as Outbreak Reaches 5,713 Cases
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 28
Summary
Congo on Thursday began giving Ervebo shots to frontline and health workers in Kisangani, opening a vaccination campaign against the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record.
5,713 confirmed cases and 2,744 deaths had been recorded by Tuesday, with the outbreak centered in Ituri and spreading amid insecurity, displacement, a health workers’ strike and heavy population movement.
50,000 doses are earmarked for frontline protection, while another 20,000 approved doses will be used in a clinical trial to test whether Ervebo works against the Bundibugyo virus driving the outbreak.
Ervebo is being deployed under compassionate use because no licensed vaccine or treatment exists for Bundibugyo Ebola, though officials say the related vaccine may offer some protection.
The campaign will cover 14 health zones in Tshopo, Bas-Uele and Haut-Uele as the WHO warns the outbreak remains out of control and could surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic.
Can a vaccine designed for a different strain stop Congo's fastest-growing Ebola outbreak before armed conflict pushes the virus across international borders?
With dozens of medics dead and hospitals under attack, will this experimental vaccine trial save Congo's frontline or spark deadly community mistrust?
The 2026 Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak: Inside Africa’s Second-Largest Ebola Crisis and the Global Race for a Vaccine
Overview
The 2026 Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the DRC has become a major crisis, made worse by ongoing conflict, mass displacement, and a lack of approved vaccines or treatments. Early symptoms mimic common diseases, causing dangerous delays in detection. Health workers face violence, shortages, and high infection rates, while community mistrust and fast-spreading misinformation undermine containment. With standard diagnostics failing and funding cut, the virus spread undetected for weeks. Authorities turned to off-label use of the Ervebo vaccine, hoping for cross-protection, but logistical challenges and cultural clashes—especially over burial practices—continue to hinder efforts. Building local trust and adapting strategies remain crucial for control.