Congo Begins Vaccination Campaign Against Fastest-Growing Ebola Outbreak in History
- The Democratic Republic of Congo began vaccinating its population against Ebola on Thursday to combat the fastest-growing outbreak in the disease's history.
- Health workers and frontline personnel are receiving priority for the Ervebo vaccine, which proved effective in previous Ebola outbreaks caused by a different, more common strain.
- As of Tuesday, the nation had recorded 5,713 confirmed cases with 2,744 deaths, concentrated primarily in Ituri province.
- The outbreak is spreading under extremely difficult conditions driven by insecurity, displacement, healthcare worker strikes, and intense population movement.
- Over 50,000 doses of Ervebo vaccine have been received, with 50,000 doses allocated to frontline workers and 20,000 doses designated for clinical trials to test effectiveness against the Bundibugyo virus causing the current outbreak.
- The WHO stated the outbreak remains out of control and is on track to surpass the 2014-2016 West African Ebola outbreak, which killed over 11,000 people.
The Democratic Republic of Congo launched a vaccination campaign on Thursday to combat the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history. Health workers and other frontline personnel are receiving priority for the Ervebo vaccine, which demonstrated effectiveness in previous Ebola outbreaks caused by a different, more common virus strain. Health Minister Roger Kamba announced the campaign launch in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province, one of six provinces affected by the outbreak in the eastern part of the country.
As of Tuesday, the nation had recorded 5,713 confirmed cases including 2,744 deaths, according to government figures. The outbreak is concentrated in Ituri province and is the deadliest of 17 previous Ebola outbreaks in the country. The virus is spreading under extremely difficult conditions driven by insecurity, displacement, healthcare worker strikes, and intense population movements. The World Health Organization has stated the outbreak remains out of control and is on track to surpass the 2014-2016 West African Ebola outbreak, the deadliest on record with over 11,000 deaths.
More than 50,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine have been received, with 70,000 doses approved for use in the country. Approximately 50,000 doses are designated for frontline workers and healthcare personnel, while 20,000 doses will be used in a clinical trial to study whether the vaccine protects against the Bundibugyo virus causing the current outbreak. The vaccine is being used under a compassionate use program, which permits use of a medical product in serious illness situations even without specific approval for that particular use. No authorized vaccine or treatment currently exists for the Bundibugyo virus.
刚果民主共和国启动历史上增长最快的埃博拉疫情疫苗接种
刚果民主共和国周四启动疫苗接种运动，以遏制历史上增长最快的埃博拉疫情。卫生工作者和其他一线人员优先接种Ervebo疫苗，该疫苗在由不同且更常见病毒株引起的以往埃博拉疫情中证明有效。卫生部长罗杰·坎巴在该国东部受疫情影响的六个省份之一的托波省首府基桑加尼宣布了运动启动。
截至周二，该国已记录5,713例确诊病例，包括2,744人死亡，根据政府数据。疫情集中在伊图里省，是该国17次以往埃博拉疫情中最致命的。病毒在极其困难的条件下传播，由不安全局势、人口流离失所、卫生工作者罢工和人口大规模流动驱动。世界卫生组织表示疫情仍未得到控制，有望超过2014-2016年西非埃博拉疫情，后者是有记录以来最致命的，导致超过11,000人死亡。
已收到超过50,000剂Ervebo疫苗，该国共批准70,000剂用于使用。约50,000剂分配给一线工作者和卫生人员，而20,000剂将用于临床试验，以研究该疫苗是否能保护人们免受导致当前疫情的邦迪布吉病毒感染。该疫苗在人道主义用途计划下使用，该计划允许在严重疾病情况下使用医疗产品，即使未获得该特定用途的具体批准。目前不存在针对邦迪布吉病毒的授权疫苗或治疗方法。