Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing significant challenges in responding to the latest Ebola outbreak in the southern Kasai province, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is the first Ebola outbreak in nearly two decades in this remote region.
Limited access and a lack of funding are among the key obstacles hampering efforts to contain the virus.
A United Nations peacekeeping helicopter was used to deliver hundreds of vaccine doses to the area. WHO officials say an additional 1,500 doses will be sent from the capital, Kinshasa.
Africa’s top public health agency reported that since the outbreak was confirmed in early September, the number of suspected cases has risen from 28 to 68. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has so far recorded 16 deaths.
Recent U.S. funding cuts have sparked major concerns. The U.S. had previously supported Congo’s Ebola responses, including in 2021, when the U.S. Agency for International Development provided up to $11.5 million to aid efforts across the continent.
Source: Africanews
