LAGOS – The World Health Organization announced on Sunday that vaccination efforts have commenced in southern Kasai province for individuals exposed to the Ebola virus and frontline health workers.

Earlier this month, an Ebola outbreak was identified in Bulape, Kasai, resulting in at least 16 deaths and 68 suspected cases, as per the latest briefing from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The WHO stated that an initial batch of 400 doses of the Ervebo vaccine has been sent, with further supplies expected later. The initiative is facing challenges due to limited accessibility and financial constraints.

Vaccination efforts are anticipated to accelerate soon, following the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision’s approval of approximately 45,000 additional doses. This supplements an existing stockpile of 2,000 doses already present in the country.

This marks Congo’s 16th Ebola outbreak since 1976, attributed to the Zaire species, named after the nation’s former name. The outbreak poses an additional concern for the central African nation, which is also contending with ongoing conflicts involving rebel factions, particularly in its eastern regions, where violence has severely impacted the healthcare infrastructure.