South Sudan Vaccinates Health Teams In Ebola Epidemic
Fakhir Rizvi Published December 10, 2018 | 09:05 PM
South Sudan will vaccinate key health workers against Ebola close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, which faces a new epidemic, the World Health Organization said Monday.
The ministry of health's vaccination campaign, with cooperation from the WHO, will target healthcare and frontline workers in the high-risk states of Juba, Yei, Yambio and Nimule, the UN agency said in a statement.
South Sudan is one of several countries bordering the vast DRC, where the new outbreak of the highly contagious viral disease had since August claimed 271 lives by December 6, according to Congolese Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga.
A total of 2,160 doses of the experimental vaccine rVSV-ZEBOV have been allocated to South Sudan for a programme starting on December 19. This trial vaccine is not yet licenced but is considered safe and provided "under the compassionate-use guidelines in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DRC", the WHO said.
Like neighbouring Uganda, where similar measures have been taken for health personnel, South Sudan has declared a state of alert because of the risk that Ebola may be carried into its territory. At present, no cases have been reported, according the WHO.
The experimental vaccine first went on trial during the terrible epidemic of Ebola that ravaged parts of West Africa between the end of 2013 and 2016, at a cost of more than 11,300 lives. The disease spreads through contact with bodily fluids from other people or infected animals.
The vaccine was created by Canadian public health specialists at the National Microbiology Laboratory and is considered highly effective by the WHO, but it works only against the Ebola virus-Zaire strain, confirmed in the outbreak in the DRC.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
SC orders end of encroachments in Karachi
Nazish Jahangir denies viral screenshots, calls them fake
Govt likely to hike electricity price once again
Bismah Maroof announces immediate retirement from international cricket
Malala expresses unwavering support for Gaza people
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performanc ..
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz in police uniform at Chung police center
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 25 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 25 April 2024
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
More Stories From Health
-
Vaccines save at least 154 million lives in 50 years: WHO
22 hours ago -
UHS to issue MBBS degrees within three months after final result
1 day ago -
Rawalpindi woman gives birth to six babies
6 days ago -
DC calls for intensive anti-polio drive in ICT
7 days ago -
World Hemophilia Day observed to underscore importance of providing comprehensive care
8 days ago -
Six in a family with heart on the 'right side'
8 days ago
-
Diabetic disease increasing rapidly : Dr. Noor Elahi Memon
8 days ago -
World Hemophilia Day observed
8 days ago -
ATC dismisses bail petition of doctor involved in illegal kidneys transplant
16 days ago -
Dr. Shehzad warns against deviation from WHO guidelines on anti-smoking
16 days ago -
Health activists express concerns over attempts to derail tobacco control
18 days ago -
UHS declares MBBS first prof, MS urology exam results
27 days ago