The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that people had been vaccinated in Mbandaka, the capital city of western Equateur province.
It follows the deaths of two people from Ebola as of April 21. More than 230 contacts of the deceased have been identified and tracked and three immunization teams will work to reach those most at risk, according to WHO.
Positive outlook
“With effective vaccines in hand and the experience of DRC health workers in responding to Ebola, We can quickly change the course of this outbreak for the better,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the UN agency’s regional director for Africa. “We are supporting the country in all key aspects of the Ebola emergency response to protect and save lives.”
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has seen 14 Ebola outbreaks since 1976 – 6 outbreaks since 2018.
With support from WHO and other partners and donors, the country has become an expert in promoting an effective Ebola response, the UN agency noted.
Lifesaver delivery
About 200 doses of Ebola vaccine rVSV-ZEBOV have been delivered to Mbandaka from the east of Goma city and other doses will be delivered in the coming days.
Vaccination is administered according to a “loop strategy” whereby contacts – and contacts – of confirmed Ebola patients, receive the injection, as well as healthcare workers. and frontline.
In addition to the vaccination campaign, a 20-bed Ebola treatment center has been established in Mbandaka. Epidemic surveillance and investigation of suspected Ebola patients are underway to detect new infections, and WHO has also provided material support as well as six epidemiologists to assist in the response.
‘New strain’
National health authorities have also played a key role in this effort, including the National Institutes of Biomedical Research, which has completed analysis of samples from the first confirmed case, the results of which indicate the outbreak. New outbreak indicates a new strain of Ebola, WHO results say “host or animal reservoir spill”.
Investigations are underway to determine the source of the new outbreak and how it infected the first confirmed humans.
