Ebola in the DRC: 20,000 healthcare workers targeted, effectiveness of Ervebo remains unknown
The campaign reaches Bunia, the epicenter of the outbreak. The country has reported 7,541 confirmed cases and 3,639 deaths, while Ervebo, approved for another strain of Ebola, is still being evaluated against Bundibugyo.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo launched a new phase of vaccination against Ebola on Saturday, September 19, in Bunia, Ituri, targeting 20,000 healthcare workers and other frontline responders, while the effectiveness of Ervebo against the Bundibugyo virus remains to be established.
The deployment initially focuses on the health zones of Bunia and Mongbwalu, which are among the most affected. The campaign is set to expand across Ituri and North Kivu over six to nine months to cover personnel most exposed to patient care and response efforts.
Ervebo is approved for the Zaire ebolavirus species, but the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus. The World Health Organization estimates that the available data do not yet allow for the determination of its effectiveness in humans against this strain and recommends its use within a research framework.
The report released at the launch indicates 7,541 confirmed cases, 3,639 deaths, and 1,823 recoveries. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported, based on data as of September 16, 7,475 confirmed cases and 3,605 deaths, reflecting an increase of 71 cases and 32 deaths in one day.
Ituri accounts for the majority of infections and deaths recorded in the country. The deployment in Bunia follows the initiation of a first vaccination campaign in Kisangani at the end of August, with 70,000 doses of Ervebo allocated to the DRC, including approximately 50,000 for frontline personnel and 20,000 for clinical trials.
The Congolese Ministry of Health has been actively monitoring the outbreak of Ebola Bundibugyo since May 15, 2026. The WHO continues to classify the risk as very high in the DRC and high for neighboring countries.
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