ebola

Ebola Vaccination ⁢Campaign Launched in DR Congo as 16th Outbreak Escalates

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo – September ⁤16, 2025 – A vaccination campaign is underway in the Bulape ⁣health⁢ zone of the Democratic republic of​ the Congo as health ‌officials race to contain the country’s 16th Ebola⁤ outbreak. ‌The outbreak, declared recently,​ has already seen confirmed cases rise to 25, with new infections​ detected as far as 70 km from the initial epicenter, raising concerns‍ about wider⁣ spread.

according to⁣ Dr. Jean-Pierre Ngongo, a health official involved in the response, the ⁤suspected⁤ cases ⁤have spread ⁤to four health zones, up from two at the beginning of the outbreak. “It was two, ‌now it is four,” Ngongo stated, ⁣describing⁤ the⁢ epidemic “a⁢ major⁤ threat to national health‍ systems.”⁤ The outbreak’s epicenter is located near tshikapa, the capital of Kasai ⁣Province, approximately 100 to 200 km from⁤ the Angolan border. Frequent population movements between Bulape and Tshikapa are increasing the risk of⁤ further⁣ transmission.

Whole⁤ genome sequencing indicates this outbreak is a new zoonotic spillover event, distinct from previous outbreaks ⁤in the same region in 2007 and 2008.The fragile health infrastructure in neighboring Sankuru Province, which borders Bulape, could further complicate containment efforts.

Patrick Otim, a WHO Regional Office for Africa official, told reporters‌ in Geneva, Switzerland, on ⁤September 12th, that bringing the outbreak ⁢under⁢ control within the next two weeks is “possible but could be​ challenging.”

Epidemiological‍ investigations are ‍ongoing to‍ identify transmission ⁣chains and the ⁣source ⁣of the infection.The WHO currently‍ assesses the public health risk as high at the national level, moderate at the‍ regional level, and​ low at the ​global level.

The DRC⁣ previously declared the end of an Ebola outbreak in September 2022,following a single confirmed case in North Kivu province,which was genetically linked to⁤ the ⁣devastating 2018-2020‍ outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces that claimed nearly⁤ 2,300 lives.

Ebola,first identified in​ 1976 in both Sudan and ⁣the DRC (then Zaire)⁣ – near the Ebola ⁤River from which the disease derives its name – is ‍a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever characterized by symptoms including fever,vomiting,diarrhea,generalized ⁣pain,and frequently enough,internal and ​external bleeding.

Ebola Outbreak Response⁤ Underway in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Kinshasa – Health officials ‍are​ responding to the Democratic⁣ Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) 16th Ebola outbreak, confirmed on September 4th in Kasai Province. This marks a resurgence of the virus ‍in a region previously affected by outbreaks in 2007 ​and 2008. The current outbreak ⁤is attributed to‍ the Zaire ebolavirus species, considered the most virulent and lethal strain.

The World Health Organization (WHO) ​has initiated a vaccination campaign targeting frontline health⁤ workers and⁢ contacts of confirmed⁢ cases. an initial shipment of 400 doses of the ervebo vaccine ‌has arrived‌ in Bulape,the​ epicenter of the ‌outbreak,with an additional 45,000 doses expected soon.

As of September 12th, 25 confirmed‍ cases have⁢ been reported, alongside 68 suspected cases and 16‍ deaths. The outbreak has spread from two‍ to four health zones, posing a “major threat to national health systems,” according to health officials. the affected ‍area borders Sankuru Province,⁣ where a‍ fragile health infrastructure could further complicate response efforts.

Investigations indicate this outbreak is a new zoonotic spillover​ event, not directly linked to the previous outbreaks in the same region. The epicenter is located near Tshikapa, the capital of Kasai⁤ Province,​ and approximately 100-200 km from the Angolan border. Frequent population movement between Bulape and tshikapa raises concerns about potential wider transmission.​ New⁣ cases have⁣ been detected⁢ up to 70 km from Bulape.

While officials believe the outbreak can ⁤be controlled with swift action ⁣within the next two weeks, they acknowledge this will be “difficult.” The⁣ WHO currently‍ assesses ‌the public health risk as high⁢ nationally, moderate regionally, and low globally.

The DRC previously declared the end of an Ebola outbreak‌ in September ​2022, following a single confirmed case in North Kivu province, which was linked genetically to the 2018-2020 outbreak that claimed nearly ⁤2,300 lives. Ebola,first identified in​ 1976 in both the ​DRC (then⁣ Zaire) and South Sudan,is a highly contagious hemorrhagic fever characterized by symptoms ⁣including fever,vomiting,diarrhea,pain,and often,internal and external ⁣bleeding.Epidemiological investigations ‍to identify transmission chains​ and the source ‍of infection are ongoing.