Over 4,300 confirmed cases reported

The latest health ministry figures indicate the outbreak has resulted in 2,011 deaths out of 4,381 confirmed cases. The mortality rate stands at 45.9%. Originating in Ituri province in the northeast, the disease has since spread to multiple regions including North Kivu, where conflict zones and fragile healthcare systems have exacerbated the crisis. The current outbreak now ranks among the deadliest in DRC, approaching the grim toll of the 2018-2020 epidemic, which claimed nearly 2,300 lives.

Clinical trials underway for Ebola vaccine

The current outbreak stems from the Bundibugyo Ebola variant, for which no approved vaccine exists. The World Health Organization has recommended accelerating clinical trials for Ervebo, the only Ebola vaccine currently licensed. Given extensive safety data, a phase 3 trial may proceed at scale. The Gavi Vaccine Alliance has pledged to supply doses from the global Ervebo stockpile, which holds approximately 500,000 doses. The vaccine is manufactured by Merck, an American pharmaceutical company.

Multiple vaccine candidates in development

Researchers are also exploring other vaccine candidates against the Bundibugyo variant. Canada has approved Moderna to initiate clinical trials for its experimental vaccine, while additional candidates are under development by Hilleman Laboratories and the University of Oxford. In response to the escalating crisis, the United States has announced an additional $242 million in aid to bolster Ebola response efforts in DRC.