Kinshasa: An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has resulted in 31 fatalities, as confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak, which marks the country’s first in three years, was declared earlier this month, with a total of 48 confirmed and probable cases reported so far.
According to Voice of Nigeria, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus briefed reporters via video link from Geneva, emphasizing the organization’s response efforts. The WHO has started vaccinating frontline health workers and individuals who have come into contact with infected patients in Kasai Province, where the outbreak is centered. An initial batch of 400 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, part of the country’s 2,000-dose stockpile, has been sent to Bulape, the epicenter of the outbreak.
The WHO has also mobilized significant resources, delivering over 14 tonnes of essential medical supplies and deploying experts to the area. An Ebola treatment center has been established, with 16 patients currently receiving care. Additionally, health workers are monitoring more than 900 contacts of confirmed cases to control the spread of the virus.
Congo’s dense tropical forests serve as a natural reservoir for the Ebola virus, which can persist in survivors’ bodies and reemerge after years. The virus causes symptoms such as fever, body aches, and diarrhea. The rapid response, including vaccination and treatment efforts, aims to curb the outbreak and prevent further loss of life.