Over 4,300 confirmed cases
The outbreak has resulted in 2,011 deaths out of 4,381 confirmed cases, as reported by Congolese health authorities this week. The mortality rate stands at 45.9%. Originating in Ituri Province in the northeast, the virus has since spread to neighboring regions including North Kivu, where ongoing conflict has left healthcare infrastructure severely weakened. This outbreak now rivals the devastating 2018-2020 epidemic, which claimed nearly 2,300 lives.
Vaccine trial launched against current Ebola strain
The current outbreak is driven by the Bundibugyo Ebola variant, for which no approved vaccine exists. The World Health Organization has authorized a Phase 3 clinical trial of Ervebo, the only Ebola vaccine currently approved for another strain. Extensive safety data on Ervebo supports direct implementation of this large-scale trial. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, will provide doses from the global Ervebo stockpile, which contains approximately 500,000 doses. The vaccine is manufactured by Merck.
Multiple vaccine candidates in development
Additional vaccine candidates are also under investigation for the Bundibugyo variant. Canada has approved clinical trials for Moderna’s mRNA vaccine candidate. Two other potential vaccines are being developed by Hilleman Laboratories and the University of Oxford. In response to the outbreak’s severity, the United States has pledged over $242 million in additional funding to support Ebola response efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
