Congo gets 16,250 Ebola vaccine doses as deadly outbreak spreads rapidly
Congo has received 16,250 doses of an Ebola vaccine as health authorities race to contain what officials describe as the fastest Ebola outbreak in the country's history.
The doses of Ervebo arrived at N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa late Friday. They are part of around 70,000 doses expected from the World Health Organisation and its partners, with more shipments due early next week.
The outbreak is being caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
Ervebo is licensed for use against Ebola and has been used successfully during previous outbreaks. The WHO has said it could offer some protection against the Bundibugyo virus.
According to figures available on Friday, the outbreak had recorded 5,290 confirmed cases and 2,516 deaths.
Health authorities are facing major challenges in containing the spread. Fighting between government forces and rebel groups has affected several areas at the centre of the outbreak, while attacks on healthcare workers and medical facilities have further complicated the response.
The movement of displaced people and migrant workers, along with poor infrastructure, has also made it harder for health teams to track and contain infections.
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention data indicates that transmission has not yet reached its peak and could rise sharply in the coming weeks.
The current outbreak is already raising fears that it could become more severe than the 2014-16 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, which killed more than 11,000 people.
(With inputs from PTI)
