The World Health Organization (WHO) has started vaccinating frontline health workers and contacts of persons infected with Ebola virus in DR Congo.
WHO announced the commencement of the exercise on Sunday, saying the vaccination drive is taking place in DR Congo’s Kasai Province where an Ebola outbreak was declared recently.
According to the global health body, an initial 400 doses of Ervebo Ebola vaccine from DR Congo’s stockpile of $2,000 doses have been delivered to Bulape, which is said to be the epicenter of the outbreak.
WHO disclosed that the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision has approved the distribution of additional 45,000 Ebola vaccine doses to DR Congo.
According to a recent data released by the Congolese Ministry of Health, there were 32 suspected cases, 20 confirmed cases, and 16 deaths.
Speaking in Geneva last week, WHO Programme Area Manager, Patrick Otim, said containing the current Ebola outbreak is “possible.”
The current outbreak is the
first in Congo in the last three years.
Source:Africa Publicity