The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday that 48 confirmed and probable cases of Ebola have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including 31 deaths.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the outbreak was declared just two weeks ago, stressing the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need to scale up the health response.
According to the organization, a vaccination campaign has already started targeting health workers and patient contacts, with 400 initial doses of the vaccine delivered to the outbreak’s epicenter. More than 14 tons of medical supplies have also been shipped, alongside the deployment of experts and the establishment of a treatment center where 16 patients are currently receiving care.
This new outbreak raises fears of wider transmission of the virus, which has claimed thousands of lives in previous waves, and has prompted international calls for stronger support to emergency response efforts.
