Congo has obtained over 16,000 doses of the Ervebo vaccine to combat the swiftest Ebola outbreak in history. The Health Minister reported that 16,250 doses landed at N’djili International Airport in Kinshasa. These doses are part of the 70,000 expected from the World Health Organization and partners, with further shipments anticipated next week.

This outbreak is due to the Bundibugyo virus, a rare strain lacking approved treatments or vaccines. The virus can spread easily and go unnoticed, as its symptoms resemble those of other diseases like malaria. While Ervebo is licensed for Ebola, the WHO believes it might offer some defense against the Bundibugyo virus.

The outbreak has resulted in 2,557 deaths from 5,375 confirmed cases across six provinces. It is spreading rapidly and risks surpassing the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa, which claimed over 11,000 lives. According to the Africa Centre for Disease Control, transmission is still rising and could triple its current rate.

Efforts to control the outbreak are hindered by ongoing armed conflict between the government and rebel factions, which hold key areas in the affected region. There have been attacks on medical staff and facilities, complications from a mobile workforce, displaced individuals due to conflict, and inadequate infrastructure.