Ebola outbreak in Southern Congo pushes vaccination drive
An Ebola outbreak in Southern Congo has led to a vaccination drive, with vaccines being distributed in the affected region, according to Africa News via Associated Press, 22nd September.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that 31 of the 38 confirmed cases in Southern Congo have resulted in deaths. Figures show the casualty rate has nearly doubled from 16 last week, and the disease is spreading rapidly, with more than 900 contacts identified so far. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also confirmed the disease’s spread from two to four districts.
A fresh outbreak was announced by Congolese authorities on 5th September in the locality of Bulape in Kasai, a south-central region in Congo, identified as the centre of the outbreak.
An Ebola outbreak had also been a pressing concern for neighbouring Uganda earlier this year, with the WHO announcing the death of a four-year-old child from the disease on March 1st.
Uganda’s outbreak had been met with concerns over its management as it coincided with the Trump administration’s decision to cut funding to USAID, which undermined global health efforts.
In Southern Congo, however, there has been a vaccination drive in response to the outbreak with Dr. Patrick Otim from WHO Africa’s program reporting 760 doses already delivered to Bulape. Another 45,000 doses are expected to arrive soon.
“More than 500 health care workers and contacts have received their vaccination, offering them crucial protection,” Otim said.
There is currently no cure for Ebola which the WHO has previously stated has had a fatality rate of 41%.
An additional batch of vaccines approved by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision will start arriving into Southern Congo on from September 26th-28th, according to WHO officials.
Due to limited storage capacity and difficult access to the area, however, doses have been into Bulape in small batches, officials have said.
AfricaNews via Associated Press, Maghrebi.org
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