Congo begins Ebola vaccinations to fight country's worst outbreak in history, health minister says
The vaccination campaign was officially launched in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province, in the country's east, Health Minister Roger Kamba said.
KISANGANI, Congo (AP) — Congo on Thursday began vaccinating people against Ebola as health authorities work to slow the country's deadliest outbreak of the disease on record.
Health workers and other people working on the front lines of the Ebola response are among the first to receive the vaccine.
"We have decided to use the Ervebo vaccine to protect first those who are on the front line, therefore our health care providers, but also people who have been in contact with patients," Kamba said.
The outbreak has so far affected six provinces in Congo, including Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut-Uele and Bas-Uele.
As of Tuesday, the country had recorded 5,713 confirmed cases, including 2,744 deaths, according to government figures. The overall death rate among confirmed cases was about 48%.
