The World Health Organization has started vaccinating frontline health workers and contacts of Ebola patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Kasai province, where the virus outbreak has already claimed 16 lives.
The outbreak, first declared in early September in the Bulape locality, is DR Congo’s first in three years and has left 16 dead, with 20 confirmed cases and 32 suspected cases, according to the health ministry in Kinshasa. The disease is caused by the Zaire species of the virus, which can persist in survivors for years.
An initial 400 doses of the Ervebo vaccine have been delivered from a national stockpile of 2,000 doses. The International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision has approved dispatch of an additional 45,000 doses to strengthen the vaccination campaign.
Limited access, scarce funding, and ongoing conflict in eastern DR Congo are hampering response efforts.
“Containing the outbreak is possible, but it will be challenging if we miss the window of opportunity,” WHO Programme Area Manager Patrick Otim said last week, urging more support for local authorities and partners.
The virus has the potential to spread beyond the epicentre, with one new case confirmed 70 km from Bulape.
WHO noted a moderate risk of transmission to neighbouring countries, particularly Angola. DR Congo’s dense forests, a natural Ebola reservoir, and the weakened healthcare system due to conflicts further complicate containment efforts.
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