PRETORIA, august 28. /TASS/. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has pledged to vaccinate more vigorously against Ebola amid the latest outbreak, DRC Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said.
"We have made a decision to launch a vaccination campaign first and foremost to protect those who are on the frontlines of the fight against Ebola. They include healthcare workers, as well as people who have been in contact with Ebola patients," the Congolese press agency quoted him as saying.
According to Kamba, the DRC has received 50,000 Ervebo vaccine doses from the World Health Organization (WHO) and is already using them. Some 20,000 Ervebo doses, also received from the WHO, will be used for clinical trials inside the country.
This vaccine, developed in Canada and manufactured by the Merck company, was used for the first time against Ebola in the DRC in 2018. Since then, it has proved its efficacy against the Zaire virus which causes Ebola fever. This outbreak, however, was caused by another virus, Bundibugyo, a vaccine against which is being still developed. Kamba expressed hope the Ervebo will help boost immunity in those vaccinated.
As of today, according to the Congolese health ministry, the Ebola case tally stands at 5,794, with the death toll being 2,786. The mortality rate is 48.1%. As many as 843 patients with suspected Ebola are undergoing treatment at hospitals.
