The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than a thousand people since it started nine months ago, the World Health Organization said on Friday.
In addition, attacks on treatment centers are continuing to hamper efforts to control the epidemic, WHO said, adding that the outbreak will continue to spread though the east of DRC.
WHO also announced plans to expand vaccinations in the coming weeks once a new treatment by Johnson & Johnson is approved. Already, another experimental vaccine made by Merck is being used.
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Michael Ryan, executive director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, told reporters in Geneva that 119 attacks had been documented since January.
He said although there were enough supplies, the attacks on medical staff were making it hard to get to affected communities.
As a result, he said, “we are anticipating a scenario of continued intense transmission”.
WHO said more than 100,000 people have been vaccinated so far, and the treatment has been highly effective.
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