DR Congo receives Ebola vaccines in face of 'exponential' outbreak
The Democratic Republic of Congo has received more than 16,000 doses of an Ebola vaccine, as authorities step up efforts against the ongoing outbreak. More than 2,500 people have already died and health officials from the WHO are warning this epidemic could surpass the deadliest on record – that occurred between 2014 and 2016 and caused over 11,000 deaths across West Africa. Dr Muhammad Munir,…
The Democratic Republic of Congo has received over 16,000 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine as it battles an exponential outbreak. According to The Korea Times and Associated Press, 16,250 doses arrived at the N’djili International Airport in Kinshasa, part of 70,000 doses expected from the World Health Organization and partners.
The current outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, has recorded 2,516 deaths out of 5,290 confirmed cases and is spreading at an unprecedented rate, France 24 and The Korea Times reported. The World Health Organization has warned that this epidemic could surpass the deadliest on record, which occurred between 2014 and 2016 and caused over 11,000 deaths across West Africa.
The Ervebo vaccine, licensed to treat Ebola, has been effective in past outbreaks and the WHO said it may provide some protection against the Bundibugyo virus, The Korea Times and Associated Press reported. More doses are expected early next week.
Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, The Korea Times, Associated Press, Winnipeg Free Press, Bernama — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
