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Health workers in Congo receive Ebola vaccine amid outbreak
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Congo has started vaccinating frontline and health workers against Ebola using the Ervebo vaccine, aiming to slow the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in the country's history.
- The current outbreak, primarily in Ituri province, has recorded 5,713 confirmed cases and 2,744 deaths, making it the deadliest of Congo’s 17 Ebola outbreaks.
- Over 50,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine have been received, with 20,000 doses allocated for a clinical trial to test protection against the Bundibugyo virus, which lacks a licensed vaccine.
- The Ervebo vaccine is being used under a compassionate-use program, and health authorities are studying its effectiveness against the related Bundibugyo virus during the vaccination campaign.
- The campaign covers 14 health zones across Tshopo, Bas-Uele, and Haut-Uele provinces, with officials urging health workers to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their communities.
