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DR Congo launches Ebola vaccine trial in Ituri province
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have launched an experimental vaccination campaign in Bunia, Ituri province, to combat a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain. The campaign, supported by the World Health Organization and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), utilizes the Ervebo vaccine. While Ervebo was originally licensed for the Zaire strain, researchers are conducting the BRAVO clinical trial to assess its potential cross-protection against the Bundibugyo variant.
The trial aims to monitor approximately 20,000 frontline workers in the Ituri and North Kivu provinces over a period of nine to 12 months. This follows an initial allocation of 70,000 doses to the DRC, with 50,000 intended for frontline responders and 20,000 reserved for the Phase 3 study. As of mid-September, over 3,700 people had been vaccinated across various provinces.
The epidemic has reached significant proportions, with the DRC government reporting 7,541 confirmed cases and 3,639 deaths. Data from UN Women highlights a disproportionate impact on women and girls, who account for approximately 55% of confirmed cases and over 60% of cases among adolescents aged 10 to 17, often due to their roles as primary caregivers in communities.
Entities
ALIMA · Africa CDC · Bundibugyo Ebola virus · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Doctors Without Borders · Ervebo · Gaby Kasongo Mulumba · Ituri · Médecins Sans Frontières · ONU Femmes · UN Women · World Health Organization
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Africa CDC stated the Ebola outbreak remains serious and has not yet reached its peak. www.ecofinagency.com · mznews.co.mz
- [● 12 SOURCES] There have been 1,823 recoveries from the outbreak. mymotherlode.com · www.politika.rs · thecsrjournal.in · www.kob.com · www.kurir.rs · +6 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Girls aged 10 to 17 represent more than 60% of cases. www.globaldiasporanews.com · tarbes7.fr · primanews.org
- [● 14 SOURCES] The DRC has recorded 7,541 confirmed Ebola cases and 3,639 deaths. bhaskarlive.in · mymotherlode.com · www.politika.rs · thecsrjournal.in · www.kob.com · +8 more
- [● 16 SOURCES] The Ervebo vaccine trial targets approximately 20,000 frontline workers in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. bhaskarlive.in · mymotherlode.com · jovempan.com.br · www.politika.rs · n1info.ba · +9 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Women account for nearly 55% of confirmed Ebola cases. www.globaldiasporanews.com · tarbes7.fr · primanews.org
- [● 6 SOURCES] A clinical trial known as BRAVO has launched in Bunia to test the Ervebo vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain. bhaskarlive.in · jovempan.com.br · n1info.ba · berita.rtm.gov.my · thesudantimes.com
- [● 23 SOURCES] The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. bhaskarlive.in · mymotherlode.com · jovempan.com.br · www.politika.rs · n1info.ba · +15 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] As of September 17, a total of 3,771 people had been vaccinated in the DRC. bhaskarlive.in