KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo / RankWire.AI / – Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have begun a targeted effort to vaccinate against Ebola in Kisangani, the capital city of Tshopo Province, to help stop the deadliest outbreak in the country’s history. Frontline healthcare workers, emergency responders, and those in direct contact with confirmed cases are being prioritized during the initial stage of distribution. Health Minister Roger Kamba confirmed that the government started using doses of the Ervebo vaccine to protect frontline staff in the eastern provinces affected by the outbreak.
Official data shows the outbreak has spread to six eastern provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut-Uele, and Bas-Uele. The Ministry of Public Health and Prevention reports that there have been 5,713 confirmed cases and 2,744 deaths so far. The overall case fatality rate among confirmed cases is around 48%.
International health agencies, including the World Health Organization, are supporting local teams with logistics, laboratory testing, and vaccine distribution efforts. Vaccine administration is underway under a compassionate-use framework as researchers gather observational data on how effective the Ervebo vaccine is against the circulating viral strain. DR Congo is implementing a vaccination campaign while health workers intensify ring-vaccination strategies around identified infection clusters to contain the virus.
DR Congo Initiates Vaccination Efforts in Eastern Provinces Affected by Ebola
Operational challenges include difficult regional infrastructure, ongoing security issues, and high movement of people across borders. Kisangani has established cold-chain systems to maintain the required ultra-low temperatures for vaccine storage before distribution to remote health zones. The campaign is being launched alongside civil defense and community health workers who are conducting outreach to improve disease surveillance and reporting, Ebola vaccination efforts are ongoing in DR Congo.
Epidemiologists from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention are working with local teams to monitor vaccine safety and immune responses. Officials stressed that early detection, strict isolation, and supportive care remain key to saving lives. More vaccine supplies are scheduled for delivery as distribution expands to secondary districts.
Kisangani Acts as Key Hub for Regional Vaccine Rollout
Response teams are expanding contact tracing across urban and rural areas in the eastern region. Health centers are receiving PPE, testing kits, and treatment supplies to boost readiness. The government confirmed that public health measures will stay in place until infection rates decline significantly across all affected provinces.
Officials urged communities to cooperate with mobile vaccination teams and follow sanitary guidelines closely. Experts believe increasing immunization among high-risk groups will help stabilize infection numbers in the coming weeks. Surveillance efforts will stay alert at transportation hubs and border crossings to prevent further spread.