The Democratic Republic of Congo has begun vaccinating people against Ebola as authorities race to contain the country’s deadliest outbreak of the diseases on record.
The campaign lunched in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo Province, with healthcare workers and others on the front lines among the first to receive the vaccine.
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Health Minister Dr. Samuel-Roger Kamba said the vaccination campaign was a critical step in protecting frontline workers and limiting the spread of the virus.
Authorities are prioritising people at the highest risk of exposure, including healthcare workers, caregivers and individuals who have come into contact with confirmed Ebola patients.
The outbreak has raised concerns in Kisangani and surrounding communities, prompting health officials to intensify surveillance, contact tracing and public awareness efforts.
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Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease that spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people or animals.
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Health authorities have urged residents to report suspected cases promptly, avoid contact with the bodies of people who have died from suspected Ebola and follow public health guidance.
The vaccination campaign is being conducted as part of a broader emergency response involving national health authorities, international partners and local communities.
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Officials said the success of the response would depend on early detection, rapid treatment, community cooperation and continued support for healthcare workers on the front lines.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced several Ebola outbreaks, but health authorities say the current outbreak is the deadliest recorded in the country.
