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The Democratic Republic of Congo is preparing a sweeping overhaul of its response to the country\u2019s largest Ebola outbreak as the number of new cases continues to spike.<\/p>\n
The government plans to provide free healthcare in its Ebola-affected eastern provinces, test experimental vaccines against the Bundibugyo strain of the virus and shift to a village-led response model to contain the spread of the disease, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The measures were agreed at a meeting chaired by President Felix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa, Congo\u2019s capital, after a joint mission this week by the World Health Organisation and Africa CDC to Uganda and eastern Congo. The two agencies concluded that the response by the authorities required a fundamental reset, according to a statement Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Congo has recorded almost 4 000 Ebola cases and more than 1 800 deaths from the disease since the latest outbreak of the haemorrhagic virus was declared in mid-May. Infections are continuing to accelerate and the virus has spread across five provinces despite an extensive response by health authorities and international partners.<\/p>\n
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Insecurity, population displacement and delayed detection have exacerbated the disease\u2019s spread, with many infections occurring in communities before patients reach care, often during funerals and unsafe burials.<\/p>\n
The six-month plan will provide free healthcare in Ituri and North Kivu provinces across public, private and faith-based facilities participating in the initiative. Africa CDC and the WHO said the program will include essential medicines, protective equipment and operational funding, while prioritising timely payment of salaries and risk allowances for frontline health workers.<\/p>\n
The health authorities also agreed to accelerate research into vaccines and treatments for the Bundibugyo virus \u2014 a rare Ebola strain for which there\u2019s no licensed vaccine.<\/p>\n
Candidate shots will be evaluated, including studies of whether Merck & Co\u2019s Ervebo vaccine \u2014 approved against the Zaire strain of Ebola \u2014 can provide cross-protective immunity. Clinical evaluation of remdesivir, alone and in combination with the monoclonal antibody MBP134, will also be expanded.<\/p>\n
The strategy marks an operational shift toward a village centred response, with traditional and religious leaders, community health workers, women\u2019s and youth groups and Ebola survivors taking a central role in identifying suspected cases, tracing contacts, promoting safe burials and encouraging people to seek treatment early. The plan also calls for operational and financial support to flow directly to communities.<\/p>\n
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The overhaul comes as international support for the response grows.<\/p>\n
Officials said donors have mobilised more than $420 million for the outbreak, while Africa CDC welcomed a further $242 million announced by the US to respond to the disease outbreak, regional preparedness and humanitarian assistance.<\/p>\n
The measures will take effect immediately, while the government, WHO and Africa CDC are working on a detailed implementation plan ahead of a progress review in October.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2026 Bloomberg<\/p>\n
#Congo #escalates #Ebola #response #record #outbreak #spreads<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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