Ebola outbreak declared anew in Democratic Republic of Congo, fatalities rise to 15

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has declared a new outbreak of the Ebola virus, marking the 16th occurrence of the deadly disease in the country since its discovery. The health minister, Samuel Roger Kamba, made the announcement on Thursday.

The new outbreak, caused by the Zaire strain, was first reported on August 20 in a 34-year-old pregnant woman. As of now, 28 suspected cases have been recorded, with no new cases or deaths reported.

The DRC, which is four times the size of France, has poor infrastructure, including limited and poorly maintained lines of communication. This poses a significant challenge in managing the outbreak and deploying the Ebola vaccine, a crucial tool in combating the disease.

The Zaire strain of Ebola is one of six strains that exist. It causes severe bleeding and organ failure, making it a formidable adversary. Thankfully, there is a vaccine available for the Zaire strain.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and international partner organizations are responsible for the distribution of Ebola vaccines during outbreaks in the DRC. They coordinate with the Congolese Ministry of Health to manage vaccine deployment and containment efforts on site.

The deadliest outbreak of Ebola in the DRC, between 2018 and 2020, claimed nearly 2,300 lives. The last outbreak, which occurred three years ago, killed six people.

The new outbreak is located in central Kasai province. The health minister emphasised the need for logistics to deploy the Ebola vaccine effectively. With the combined efforts of the Congolese government, international organisations, and local communities, it is hoped that this outbreak can be contained swiftly and with minimal loss of life.

Ebola outbreak declared anew in Democratic Republic of Congo, fatalities rise to 15