World Health Organization (WHO) workers prepare a centre for vaccination
during the launch of a campaign aimed at beating an outbreak of Ebola
in the port city of Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of Congo May 21, 2018.
PHOTO | REUTERS
Health workers in northwest Democratic Republic of Congo have
begun administering vaccinations after the country's 11th known outbreak
of Ebola erupted last week, the authorities said Monday.
Six
people have died of the much-feared haemorrhagic virus since June 1,
when the first cases came to light in Mbandaka, capital of Equateur
province.
The outbreak coincides with a waning epidemic in the east of the country where 2,280 have died since August 1 2018.
"Vaccination
began in Mbandaka on Friday, with the help of our partners. We have
vaccinated as a priority medical personnel, people who have had direct
contacts with confirmed cases and second-tier contacts," Health Minister
Eteni Longondo told AFP from Mbandaka.
"We had 1,500
doses, we have ordered 8,000 more and we may place an additional order,
because there is huge demand from people in Mbandaka who want to get
vaccinated," he said.
Eteni said the six deaths were out of 12 cases that had been recorded in Mbandaka as of Sunday.
Of these 12, nine cases had been confirmed by laboratory testing and three were listed as probable.
Equateur province was struck by an Ebola outbreak between May and July 2018 that claimed 33 lives.
More
than 300,000 people have already been immunised in the eastern
outbreak, using two novel vaccines that were rushed into service to help
stem the spread.
Watchdogs hope to officially declare that outbreak over on June 25—to do this, 42 days must elapse without any new cases.
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