WHO says 31 of 38 Ebola cases in Congo have resulted in deaths
[September 19, 2025]
By OPE ADETAYO
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — The World Health Organization said Thursday that
31 of 38 confirmed Ebola cases have resulted in deaths in southern
Congo, where authorities are battling a new outbreak of the deadly
virus.
The latest figures show the casualty rate has nearly doubled since last
week — from 16 — and that the disease is spreading rapidly as more than
900 contacts have been identified so far, according to the WHO.
Vaccinations began in the affected region on Sunday.
“More than 500 health care workers and contacts have received their
vaccination, offering them crucial protection,” said Dr. Patrick Otim,
an official at WHO Africa's program.
A fresh Ebola outbreak was announced by Congolese authorities on Sept. 5
in the locality of Bulape in Kasai, a south-central region in Congo
close to Angola.
Last week, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said
the disease had spread from two districts to four.
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An additional batch of vaccines approved by the International
Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision will start arriving from Friday
through Sunday, according to Sheillah Nsasiirwe, Health Emergency
Officer for Immunization at WHO Africa.
“The vaccination has not been implemented as fast as we would have
desired it to because of accessibility challenges which have caused
delays in transporting the vaccines,” she said. WHO officials said they
have been transporting the vaccines in small batches due to a lack of
storage infrastructure in Bulape.
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