DR Congo Launches Ebola Vaccine Trial Amid Rapid Spread of Bundibugyo Virus

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is set to begin a clinical trial deploying the Ervebo Ebola vaccine to assess its effectiveness against the Bundibugyo strain currently driving a severe outbreak in the country.

While Ervebo has proven protection against the Zaïre strain of Ebola, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo species, which has contributed to the rapid spread of infections.

Escalating Outbreak

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning that Ebola cases are rising exponentially, with the affected area now larger than France. Since the outbreak was declared three months ago, nearly 2,500 deaths have been recorded, with half occurring in the past 20 days alone.

Julien Harneis, WHO's Ebola coordinator, highlighted the outbreak's alarming growth, noting that it is outpacing response efforts. The current epidemic is the deadliest in DR Congo's history and the second deadliest globally, surpassed only by the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak.

Challenges in Containment

• Misdiagnosis of Bundibugyo Ebola as typhoid and malaria delayed detection.
• Conflict in eastern regions hampers health teams’ access.
• Community mistrust and traditional burial practices complicate containment.

A recent Save the Children report revealed that over 180 children in DR Congo have lost both parents or caregivers due to the outbreak.

Vaccine Deployment Strategy

The WHO confirmed that 20,000 doses of Ervebo will be used in a trial to evaluate its protective effect against Bundibugyo, while an additional 50,000 doses are allocated for frontline health workers. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention have welcomed the vaccine allocation as a critical boost to the response.

Impact of Conflict on Response

The M23 rebel group, controlling parts of North Kivu province, has imposed a one-month suspension on shared taxis and passenger boats between rebel and government-held areas to curb Ebola transmission. Other transport modes will continue under strict health protocols.

This move follows detection of Ebola cases within M23-controlled villages and underscores the difficulties of managing an outbreak amid ongoing armed conflict. The rebel administration has also launched its own Ebola response efforts and declared zones under its control Ebola-free as of late June.

Understanding Bundibugyo Ebola

Bundibugyo Ebola is a rare virus with only two previous outbreaks documented. Symptoms resemble those of flu or malaria, including sudden fever, headache, and fatigue, progressing to vomiting, diarrhoea, and potentially fatal organ failure. Transmission occurs through contact with infected bodily fluids.