LAGOS, Nigeria — In a concerning update, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday that the death toll from a recent Ebola outbreak in southern Congo has reached 31 out of 38 confirmed cases. Authorities are currently engaged in a race against time to contain this latest wave of the deadly virus.
The latest statistics revealed a steep increase in the casualty rate, nearly doubling from the previous week’s figure of 16, which indicates that the disease is spreading at an alarming rate. WHO noted that over 900 individuals have been identified as contacts of confirmed cases, heightening the urgency of the situation. In a concerted effort to combat the outbreak, vaccinations commenced in the affected region on Sunday.
Dr. Patrick Otim, an official from WHO Africa’s program, remarked, “Over 500 health care workers and contacts have already received their vaccination, providing them with essential protection against the virus.”
The outbreak was officially declared by Congolese health authorities on September 5 in Bulape, a locality in the Kasai province, located in south-central Congo near the border with Angola.
Last week, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that the virus had spread from two districts to four, underscoring the need for immediate intervention.
Health authorities are also preparing for the arrival of an additional batch of vaccines, which have received approval from the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision. These are expected to arrive from Friday through Sunday, according to Sheillah Nsasiirwe, Health Emergency Officer for Immunization at WHO Africa.
“The pace of vaccination has not met our expectations due to challenges related to accessibility, which have caused delays in the transportation of vaccines,” Nsasiirwe explained. WHO officials further indicated that they have been able to transport vaccines only in small batches due to insufficient storage infrastructure in Bulape.
— Ope Adetayo
