WHO Panel Backs DRC Trial of Licensed Ebola Vaccine Against Rare Strain
WHO advisers recommend a clinical trial in DRC for the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, targeting the rare Bundibugyo strain amid a worsening outbreak.
A World Health Organization advisory group has recommended launching a clinical trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo to evaluate the licensed Ebola vaccine Ervebo against a rare strain of the virus, a UN spokesperson said on Friday.
Farhan Haq, the UN deputy spokesperson, told reporters at a briefing in New York that the WHO's Technical Advisory Group on Vaccine Research is backing the trial as the outbreak in eastern DRC continues to spread rapidly. Total cases have now surpassed 4,000, with 1,850 deaths reported.
The trial would assess Ervebo's effectiveness against the Bundibugyo virus, a distinct and uncommon form of Ebola disease. Unlike the more common Zaire ebolavirus, the Bundibugyo strain is caused by a separate viral species, according to the US Centers for Disease Control.
The outbreak has taken a heavy toll on children. UNICEF figures cited by Haq indicate that more than 300 children have died since the outbreak began, with children accounting for nearly a quarter of confirmed cases but almost a third of all deaths.
The crisis is also disrupting essential healthcare in affected areas. In the hardest-hit regions, the use of health services has dropped by more than 40 percent in recent months, as fear of infection keeps residents away.
This fear, combined with overstretched services, is preventing many pregnant women from seeking care. Maternal deaths in Ituri province have nearly doubled since the outbreak began, with about six women dying each week from childbirth-related complications. Ebola infection during pregnancy remains associated with almost universal fetal loss.
To counter these challenges, UNICEF, the WHO, the Africa CDC, and partners have deployed 13,000 community workers alongside the Ministry of Public Health. These teams have reached more than 2.4 million people with information on Ebola prevention and early detection, and have conducted over 500,000 household visits to combat misinformation and encourage timely care-seeking.