WHO Launches Ebola Vaccination Drive in Congo’s Kasai Province

The World Health Organization has launched an Ebola vaccination campaign in Bulape, Kasai Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, following 20 confirmed cases and 16 deaths, with 400 doses deployed and 45,000 more on the way to prevent further spread.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has initiated a targeted Ebola vaccination campaign in Bulape, Kasai Province, following the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) first outbreak in three years. The outbreak has so far resulted in 20 confirmed cases and 16 deaths.

An initial 400 doses of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine have been deployed to the epicentre, with plans to deliver an additional 45,000 doses approved by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision to contain the spread. Health officials are prioritising frontline healthcare workers and close contacts of infected individuals in the early stages of the campaign.

WHO Programme Area Manager Patrick Otim warned that the outbreak could expand rapidly, particularly after a case was confirmed 70 kilometres from Bulape. He highlighted the moderate risk of cross-border transmission, especially to neighbouring Angola, stressing the urgent need for immediate containment measures.

The campaign comes amid concerns over reduced international support and limited foreign aid, which could hamper efforts to curb the virus. “In the fight against Ebola, hesitation can be as deadly as the virus itself,” Otim emphasised, urging swift cooperation from local authorities and communities.

As the DRC battles to prevent a wider outbreak, health workers are racing against time to vaccinate at-risk populations and prevent further fatalities, underscoring the fragility of public health systems in regions prone to infectious diseases.