The World Health Organisation African Region (WHO Afro) says it is ramping up vaccination efforts to curb the spread of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The viral disease was detected about two weeks ago, with 35 deaths and 43 confirmed cases.
The WHO says the virus is still confined to the Bulape and Mweka health zones in the Kasai province.
This is the 16th Ebola outbreak in the DRC since the virus was discovered there in 1976.
WHO Afro regional manager for emergency response Dr Patrick Otim says the organisation has two vaccines that have been pre-qualified by the WHO for the Ebola Zaire variant.
“One is recommended for emergency response, which is the one we are using now, the Ervebo vaccine. And we have already vaccinated 1 500 contacts and their contacts, as well as the front-line health workers.
“We have up to 4 000 doses on the ground now in Bulape, and we are trying to ramp up vaccinations so every new case that is identified is vaccinated quite quickly,” he says.
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