Congo vaccinates health workers amid deadly Ebola outbreak
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Congo began vaccinating healthcare workers in Bunia, in the Ituri province, on Saturday to protect them against Ebola as the country faces its deadliest outbreak of the disease.
The military governor of Ituri, Maj. Gen.
Gaby Kasongo Mulumba, explained the decision to prioritise health workers, stating they are “particularly exposed and deeply involved in the response.” The country is using the Ervebo vaccine, which previously proved effective against a different strain of Ebola, though clinical trials are underway to determine its effectiveness against the current Bundibugyo virus. The vaccination campaign initially targets workers in Bunia and Mongbwalu zones and will expand to cover 20,000 front-line workers over six to nine months.
As of Saturday, Congo had confirmed 7,541 Ebola cases, resulting in 3,639 deaths and 1,823 recoveries. The outbreak is complicated by insecurity, displacement, and a health workers’ strike. The World Health Organization approved 70,000 doses of Ervebo for use in Congo, allocating 50,000 to front-line workers and 20,000 to clinical trials. Though Ervebo is designed for a different Ebola strain, health authorities believe it may offer some protection against the Bundibugyo virus, but further study is needed to confirm this.
Some health workers, like Dr. Jean Paul Uzele, previously vaccinated during an earlier outbreak, questioned whether a second vaccination was necessary.
