Health workers in Congo got their first Ebola shots this week. The rollout started in Bunia, a city in Ituri province. Ituri is the center of the worst Ebola outbreak ever recorded.
Health teams are using a vaccine called Ervebo. Ervebo works well against a more common strain of Ebola. But this outbreak is a rarer strain called Bundibugyo virus. There is no approved vaccine or treatment for that strain yet. Trials are underway now to test new options.
The shots will go first to workers in Bunia and Mongbwalu. Health leaders want to vaccinate 20,000 front line workers. The plan will take six to nine months to finish.
The numbers show how bad this outbreak has become. Congo's health ministry counts 7,541 confirmed cases. 3,639 people have died. 1,823 people have recovered. This is the deadliest of Congo's 17 past Ebola outbreaks.
The World Health Organization says this outbreak could beat the worst one in history. That was the West Africa outbreak from 2014 to 2016. It killed more than 11,000 people.
The virus keeps spreading for a few reasons. Fighting in the region has forced families from their homes. Health workers have gone on strike. People keep moving between towns. That helps the virus travel.
Ituri's military governor, Maj. Gen. Gaby Kasongo Mulumba, talked about the duty to protect health workers on the front lines.
Dr. Jeannot Elua is one of the workers getting the shot. He called the vaccine "beneficial." He said workers do not really have a choice. They have to protect themselves so they can keep treating patients.
Health officials hope the vaccine drive slows the spread before the outbreak gets even worse.
