Kathmandu— The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) initiated a vaccination campaign this week prioritizing health workers and other front-line personnel in response to a continuing Ebola outbreak. While over 50,000 doses of vaccine have been received, the current supply is licensed for a different strain of the virus, prompting ongoing clinical trials to assess its efficacy against the Bundibugyo strain currently circulating. The first vaccinations are being administered in Kisangani as authorities attempt to contain the spread concentrated in the Ituri province.

Vaccine Deployment and Strain Concerns

The vaccine being deployed this week is not specifically designed for the current Ebola strain, raising questions about its effectiveness. Clinical trials are underway to determine a suitable vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain, as there is currently no approved treatment or preventative measure available. Approximately 20,000 of the 70,000 doses allocated by the World Health Organization (WHO) will be used in these trials.

Outbreak Severity and Geographic Spread

As of Tuesday, the DRC has recorded 5,713 confirmed Ebola cases, resulting in 2,744 deaths – making this outbreak the deadliest in the country’s history. The outbreak is centered in the Ituri province, which shares a border with Uganda, and vaccination efforts are expanding to surrounding provinces as stated by Congolese health minister Samuel Roger Kamba: “We will cover all the provinces that are around Ituri, moving in the ring towards the centre of the outbreak.”

Challenges Facing Containment Efforts

Efforts to control the Ebola outbreak are being hampered by a complex set of challenges. Insecurity, population displacement, an ongoing health workers’ strike, and significant population movements are all contributing to the spread of the virus. The WHO has warned that the outbreak remains out of control and is on track to exceed the scale of the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which claimed over 11,000 lives in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Health workers are appealing for additional vaccine doses as they continue to administer vaccinations and participate in clinical trials aimed at curbing the spread of this deadly outbreak.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.