The Democratic Republic of the Congo has received 16,250 doses of the "Ervebo" vaccine amid an outbreak of Ebola fever that is spreading at an unprecedented rate. NBC News reported this on August 22, citing the Associated Press, UNN writes.
Details
The first batch of the vaccine arrived at N'Djili International Airport in the capital, Kinshasa, late Friday evening. In total, the World Health Organization and its partners are to deliver 70,000 doses to the Congo, with new batches expected early next week.
The current outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus. There is currently no approved treatment or vaccine for it. The virus can spread rapidly, and its detection is complicated by the fact that some of its symptoms resemble those of other diseases, including malaria.
At the same time, the "Ervebo" vaccine is licensed for the prevention of Ebola fever and has demonstrated effectiveness during previous outbreaks. The WHO stated that the vaccine may provide a certain level of protection against the Bundibugyo virus as well.
Outbreak spreading rapidly amid war
According to the latest available data, 5,375 confirmed cases of the disease and 2,557 deaths have been recorded in the six affected provinces. The rate at which the infection is spreading is already being called unprecedented, and according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, transmission of the virus has not yet reached its peak.
The current outbreak could surpass in scale the deadliest Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which claimed the lives of more than 11,000 people in 2014–2016.
The situation is complicated by the armed conflict in the Congo. Rebel groups operate in areas where the disease is spreading and control key cities. In addition, attacks on healthcare workers and facilities have been recorded, while population displacement caused by the fighting and a lack of critical infrastructure are making efforts to combat the infection more difficult.
The delivery of the vaccine has become part of the international response to the outbreak, which continues to spread across the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.