The World Health Organization has started an emergency vaccination campaign in Kasai Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, after the country confirmed its first Ebola outbreak in three years. Health officials said 400 doses of the Ervebo vaccine were rushed to Bulape, the epicentre of the outbreak, from a national stockpile of 2,000 doses. Another 45,000 doses have been approved for shipment by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision to support wider containment efforts. The DRC’s health ministry reported 32 suspected cases so far, including 20 confirmed infections and 16 deaths. One case has been detected 70 kilometers outside Bulape, raising concerns that the virus may spread further.
Patrick Otim, WHO Programme Area Manager, warned that the outbreak poses a moderate risk of crossing into neighboring Angola if not quickly contained. He stressed that rapid action is crucial, saying delays in deploying vaccines, treatment, and surveillance teams could allow Ebola to spiral out of control. The outbreak, declared in early September, comes at a time when international funding for Ebola response has waned. Aid groups worry that reduced foreign support and strained health systems could slow containment in a country with vast, hard-to-reach forest regions where the virus often resurfaces.
