DR Congo Receives First Shipment of Ervebo Vaccine Amid Escalating Ebola Outbreak

The initial 16,250 doses represent the first phase of 70,000 vaccines pledged by the WHO and partners, as health officials warn of accelerating transmission.

22 Aug 2026

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has received its first shipment of over 16,000 Ervebo vaccine doses as the nation grapples with its most severe Ebola outbreak to date.

The delivery, which landed in Kinshasa late Friday, marks the beginning of a 70,000-dose allocation coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and international partners. Additional doses are expected to arrive by early next week.

While Ervebo is officially approved for the Zaire strain of Ebola, scientists are cautiously optimistic about its potential efficacy against the Bundibugyo strain — currently driving the outbreak. Early animal trial data suggests some cross-protection, though no vaccine or treatment is yet authorized specifically for this variant.

DRC Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba emphasized the vaccine’s prior deployment in large-scale campaigns during the 2018–2020 epidemic. Of the 70,000 doses pledged, 20,000 will be reserved for a late-stage clinical trial to assess Bundibugyo effectiveness, with the remainder prioritized for frontline responders and healthcare workers.

The outbreak has claimed over 2,500 lives from nearly 5,300 confirmed cases, according to the UN, which noted this week that transmission rates are rising exponentially. Although officially declared in mid-May, the epidemic likely began earlier. Recent data from the Africa CDC indicates transmission remains below peak levels but has the potential to surge threefold without immediate intervention.

Containment efforts face significant obstacles, including active armed conflicts, delays in case identification, and limited infrastructure in eastern regions, according to aid organizations.

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