The sports category has moved to a new website.
ADVERTISEMENT

DR Congo authorises trial of experimental vaccine for virus

The Democratic Republic of Congo has approved using an experimental Ebola vaccine to combat an outbreak of the virus in the northeast, the government said Monday.

There is no licensed vaccine for the Ebola virus, but the WHO said this month that a promising candidate vaccine exists and could be deployed within a matter of days if the DR Congo government gave its approval

"The DRC accepts the use of vaccines against the Ebola virus," a source in the health ministry told AFP, adding that the government concluded it had no objections to the tests being conducted in the country.

"We're waiting for an operational plan from our partners which will determine what steps need to be taken, in which geographic areas we could vaccinate," the source added, on condition of anonymity.

A definitive decision on how the vaccine would be deployed will be released in 24 hours, the source said.

ADVERTISEMENT

There is no licensed vaccine for the Ebola virus, but the World Health Organization said this month that a promising candidate vaccine exists and could be deployed within a matter of days if the DR Congo government gave its approval.

On May 12, DR Congo declared an outbreak of the highly contagious disease, the eighth to date in a sprawling country five times the size of France.

A week later, researchers in the United States said they had found antibodies that could be used to neutralise the three main strains of Ebola.

So far, two cases of the virus have been confirmed in a laboratory while 18 others are suspected in the remote Bas-Uele province, an equatorial forest zone near the Central African Republic.

Three of those people have died, including the first known case, a 39-year-old man who died on the way to hospital in Likati on April 22, suffering from fever, vomiting and bleeding symptoms.

ADVERTISEMENT

It is the first outbreak of Ebola, which spreads by contact with bodily fluids, since the west Africa epidemic that ended in January last year after killing more than 11,300 people and sickening nearly 29,000.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: news@pulselive.co.ke

Recommended articles

Marianne Kitany tactfully speaks on whether Ruto should fire her ex, CS Linturi

Marianne Kitany tactfully speaks on whether Ruto should fire her ex, CS Linturi

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

Gov't & opposition officials clash at Rita Tinina's burial ceremony

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

CS Murkomen unveils new number plates for cars that will get preferential treatment

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

Moi University students escape through windows after road crash

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

57,000 civil servants to have their rent reviewed upwards

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Interesting story of U.S. Army Specialist Wambui who comes from a military family

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

Heroic GSU officer dies after jumping out of a taxi along Thika Super Highway

DJ Joe Mfalme detained for 14 more days

DJ Joe Mfalme detained for 14 more days

Explosive blows up hotel next to police station, deaths reported

Explosive blows up hotel next to police station, deaths reported

ADVERTISEMENT