Merck's Ervebo vaccine deployed in DRC as Ebola cases surge
Scientists have begun using Merck's Ervebo Ebola vaccine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, allocating 70,000 doses—20,000 for a trial and 50,000 for frontline staff.
Amid an unprecedented rise in Ebola infections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, scientists are turning to Merck's Ervebo vaccine for emergency use. The organization that controls the global Ervebo reserve approved the distribution of 70,000 doses, splitting them between a 20,000-dose clinical trial and 50,000 doses for frontline health personnel. Concurrently, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations is financing studies that analyze blood from individuals previously vaccinated against other Ebola species or Marburg to detect possible cross-protective effects.
Although candidate vaccines aimed at the Bundibugyo strain causing the current outbreak are in development, they are still several months away. Official counts as of Aug. 18 report at least 5,200 confirmed infections and 2,476 fatalities. The effort represents a rare deployment of a vaccine originally designed for a different Ebola species in hopes of slowing transmission and improving survival rates.
Why it matters
Deploying Ervebo could help curb the fast-spreading Ebola outbreak and protect health workers on the front lines.
How this story developed
- Aug 15 DR Congo Ebola crisis tops death toll, becoming nation’s deadliest outbreak
- Aug 18 The United Nations added $30.5 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund and sent 20 more humanitarian staff.
- Aug 19 UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher announced an additional $30.5 million and deployment of 20 humanitarian staff.
- Aug 20 Health workers in Ituri province have staged strikes over unpaid wages.
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