DR Congo starts Ebola vaccinations for frontline staff as deaths pass 3,600

The short version

• Health authorities launched an Ervebo vaccine campaign in Bunia targeting approximately 50,000 frontline medical personnel across Ituri province.[Al Jazeera · PBS NewsHour]
• The outbreak has reached 7,541 confirmed cases and caused 3,639 deaths, according to official government figures.[PBS NewsHour]
• Because Ervebo was developed for the Zaire strain, officials are deploying it under compassionate use while tracking its effectiveness against the Bundibugyo strain.[Al Jazeera]

Key facts

• The vaccination campaign commenced on Saturday in Bunia, located in the DRC's Ituri province.[Al Jazeera · PBS NewsHour]
• Authorities plan to inoculate around 50,000 health and frontline personnel using the Ervebo vaccine.[Al Jazeera]
• According to government tallies, the outbreak has recorded 7,541 confirmed cases, 3,639 fatalities, and 1,823 recoveries.[PBS NewsHour]
• Ervebo is administered under a compassionate-use protocol because it was developed for the Zaire strain rather than the Bundibugyo virus driving the current outbreak.[Al Jazeera]
• The World Health Organization cleared 70,000 Ervebo doses for use in the DRC in August.[Al Jazeera]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• DR Congo rolls out Ebola vaccine for health workers as death toll risesAl Jazeera
• Congo begins Ebola vaccinations for health workers in the epicenter of the outbreakPBS NewsHour - World · Wire: associated-press