Congo Ebola Outbreak Accelerates, Officials Turn to Vaccine and Antiviral

The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak is escalating at an alarming rate, prompting officials to expand access to Merck & Co.'s vaccine and Gilead Sciences Inc.'s antiviral drug. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and Congolese officials plan to roll out these treatments across two provinces in eastern DRC.

The current outbreak has reported almost 4,000 confirmed cases and over 1,800 deaths since its declaration 12 weeks ago. This rapid spread has overwhelmed conventional control measures, prompting the need for more aggressive interventions.

The use of Merck's vaccine and Gilead's drug marks a significant shift in the response to this outbreak. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and Congolese officials are working together to make these treatments available to those most in need.