Global health authorities are gathering to explore potential vaccination strategies for addressing a severe Ebola crisis unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern region.
The World Health Organization is spearheading an expert panel scheduled to convene Tuesday, focusing on identifying possible vaccine approaches to combat the ongoing health emergency.
The outbreak has claimed 131 suspected lives with 500 documented cases involving the Bundibugyo variant of Ebola, World Health Organization data shows. Both the WHO and Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have classified the situation as a public health emergency.
Currently, no licensed vaccines or therapeutic treatments exist specifically for the Bundibugyo Ebola variant, which carries a mortality rate reaching 40%.
One potential option under consideration is Ervebo, a Merck-produced vaccine designed for the Ebola Zaire variant. Laboratory research involving animals has indicated this vaccine may offer some degree of protection against Bundibugyo. Officials plan to evaluate this possibility alongside other potential interventions.
“When you have an outbreak with a strain that does not have countermeasures, we are going to advise on the best approach to take,” said Dr Mosoka Fallah, acting director of the science department at Africa CDC. “We will look at what evidence we have and make a decision.”
