In a show of leadership, the governor of Ituri province, General-Major Gaby Kasongo Mulumba Batoka, received the Ebola vaccine on September 19, 2026, in Bunia. This act was part of the official launch of the BRAVO observational study on the vaccination against Bundibugyo virus. The governor's public vaccination aims to encourage healthcare workers and others on the frontlines to get vaccinated.
Ituri province is the most affected by the 17th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As part of the study, the province has received 20,000 doses of the vaccine out of 70,000 allocated to the country. The governor expressed his hope for the study, stating that it is crucial for saving lives in Ituri.
The BRAVO study, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to assess the effectiveness of the Ervebo vaccine against the Bundibugyo virus. According to Dr. Alhassane Touré, WHO's vaccination pillar chief, the study is observational and not a regular vaccination campaign. It will monitor vaccinated healthcare workers in Ituri to measure the vaccine's real-world effectiveness.
The Ervebo vaccine has shown efficacy against the Zaire virus but its effectiveness against Bundibugyo is unknown. The study's findings will help prepare for future vaccines, such as ChAdOx1-BDBV and mRNA-1469. By getting vaccinated, the governor sent a strong message to healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, and community relays, to get vaccinated voluntarily.
The governor's public vaccination took place at a vaccination site in Bunia, in the presence of various partners, including the WHO and the Global Fund. He thanked the partners and emphasized the continued importance of adhering to preventive measures, such as handwashing and proper hygiene practices.
The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to battle the Ebola outbreak, with nearly 900 patients hospitalized and a fatality rate of 48%. The governor's leadership and the BRAVO study are seen as crucial steps towards controlling the outbreak and protecting the population.
The launch of the BRAVO study and the governor's public vaccination mark significant developments in the fight against Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The study's results will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the Ervebo vaccine against Bundibugyo and inform future vaccination strategies.
Key points
- The governor of Ituri province publicly received the Ebola vaccine to encourage healthcare workers to follow suit.
- The BRAVO study aims to assess the effectiveness of the Ervebo vaccine against the Bundibugyo virus.
- The Democratic Republic of Congo continues to battle the Ebola outbreak, with nearly 900 patients hospitalized and a fatality rate of 48%.
