In response to a fresh Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Kasai Province, the World Health Organization (WHO) has begun vaccinating frontline health workers and people who came into contact with confirmed cases.
An initial batch of 400 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine has already been delivered to Bulape, the epicenter of the outbreak, from a national reserve of 2,000 doses. To strengthen the response, the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision has also approved an additional 45,000 doses to curb further spread.
Declared in early September, this marks the DRC’s first Ebola outbreak in three years. The virus, known to thrive in the country’s dense tropical forests, has led to 32 suspected cases, 20 confirmed infections, and 16 deaths, according to the health ministry in Kinshasa.
WHO Programme Area Manager Patrick Otim cautioned that the outbreak could escalate after a case was detected 70 kilometers from Bulape. He further warned of a moderate risk of the virus spreading across borders, especially into neighboring Angola.
