Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are pursuing multiple strategies to address a rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak, including the deployment of an existing vaccine and research into potential cross-protection from related vaccines.
The international organization managing the global stockpile of Merck’s Ervebo vaccine agreed earlier this week to release 70,000 doses for use in the DRC. Of these doses, 20,000 will be used in a clinical trial while 50,000 will be distributed to frontline workers. Ervebo provides protection against a different species of Ebola virus than the one currently circulating in the outbreak.
Parallel research efforts are underway to explore whether vaccination against other Ebola species or the related Marburg virus might offer cross-protection. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations is funding studies that will analyze blood samples from people previously vaccinated against these viruses. Vaccines specifically targeting the Bundibugyo species of Ebola causing the current outbreak are still in development, with some likely months away from availability.
As of August 18, the outbreak had reached at least 5,200 confirmed cases, with 2,476 deaths reported. The deployment of vaccines and research initiatives represents an escalation in response efforts as the situation continues to expand at an unusual pace.
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