Congo has received more than 16,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine as the country grapples with the fastest Ebola outbreak in history, the country's health minister said. The shipment of 16,250 doses arrived at the N’djili International Airport in the capital, Kinshasa, late Friday. This delivery is part of a larger allocation of 70,000 doses announced on Thursday by the World Health Organization and its partners, with additional shipments expected to arrive early next week.
The current Ebola outbreak in Congo is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which currently has no approved treatment or vaccine. The virus can spread easily and often goes undetected because some of its symptoms are similar to other illnesses, such as malaria. While the Ervebo vaccine is licensed to treat Ebola and has been effective in past outbreaks, the World Health Organization said it may provide some protection against the Bundibugyo virus.
Efforts to contain the outbreak have been hampered by several significant challenges. These include armed conflict between the government and rebel groups that control key cities in the hot spot, as well as attacks on medical personnel and facilities. Furthermore, the response is complicated by an itinerant labor population, people displaced by the armed conflict, and a lack of critical infrastructure.
