Congo Ebola Outbreak Worsens as Authorities Turn to Experimental Vaccines

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has worsened, prompting authorities to expand access to Merck & Co.'s licensed Ebola vaccine and Gilead Sciences Inc.'s antiviral drug, remdesivir.

Almost 4,000 confirmed cases and over 1,800 deaths have been reported since the outbreak was declared 12 weeks ago. Despite conventional control measures failing to keep pace with community transmission, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and Congolese officials plan to expand access to both products across two provinces.

Africa CDC's director-general, Jean Kaseya, cited observational data showing that no Bundibugyo patients who received the Ervebo vaccine died. However, it remains unclear whether the vaccine protects against the rare strain driving the epidemic.