Ofure Akhigbe
The death toll from the latest Ebola outbreak in southern Congo has climbed to 31, nearly double the figure reported last week, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO said on Thursday that 31 of 38 confirmed Ebola cases had resulted in fatalities in the locality of Bulape, Kasai, a south-central region near the Angolan border. Congolese authorities first declared the outbreak on September 5.
The health body noted that the spread of the virus is accelerating, with more than 900 contacts identified so far. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week confirmed the disease had spread from two districts to four.
Vaccinations began in the affected region on Sunday, with more than 500 healthcare workers and contacts already inoculated. “More than 500 health care workers and contacts have received their vaccination, offering them crucial protection,” said Dr. Patrick Otim of WHO Africa’s program.
Additional vaccines, approved by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision, are scheduled to arrive between Friday and Sunday, according to Sheillah Nsasiirwe, WHO Africa’s Health Emergency Officer for Immunization.
Nsasiirwe admitted the campaign has faced setbacks due to difficult terrain and logistical obstacles. “The vaccination has not been implemented as fast as we would have desired it to because of accessibility challenges which have caused delays in transporting the vaccines,” she said. WHO added that limited cold-chain infrastructure in Bulape has forced vaccines to be delivered in small batches.
Authorities and health agencies say efforts are being scaled up to contain the outbreak as the death toll continues to rise.