Belgium deploys mobile lab to Congo to support Ebola vaccine research

Belgium is deploying a mobile laboratory to northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo to support research into vaccines and treatments for the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, as the country battles its largest outbreak of the disease, officials said Friday.

The facility, destined for Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, will enable researchers to conduct biological analyses on site as part of efforts to develop a safe and effective vaccine, according to Congo's Health Ministry.

The ministry said having a laboratory near the research teams would reduce the need to transport samples to distant testing centers.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said Thursday that the equipment was being transported aboard a military aircraft under Belgium's B-FAST emergency response mechanism.

Prevot reaffirmed his country's commitment to supporting Congo through epidemiological surveillance, disease prevention and improvements to health services.

The initiative is supported by the European Union.

The outbreak has surpassed 10,000 confirmed cases, with nearly 5,000 deaths, according to the latest official figures.

Since emerging in May, the disease has spread across eight provinces: Haut-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Bas-Uele, Tshopo, South-Ubangi and North-Ubangi, with Ituri remaining the epicenter.

There is currently no approved vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain.

Earlier this week, Congolese health authorities, supported by the World Health Organization, announced a clinical trial to evaluate candidate vaccines among contacts of confirmed cases.