DRC Begins Ring Vaccinations -- Along With Vaccinating Health Care Workers In Kasai Province: Ebola Response Underway.

We mentioned this new DRC outbreak on Thursday past, then it clearly was overtaken (on our pages), by local (and loco) political events. We return to Kasai developments now. As we would expect, WHO has begun ring vaccinations, and vaccines for all health care workers -- in Kasai province DRC. That is solid bio-science at work.

Here's the latest, from local reporting in DRC:

. . .The World Health Organization said it dispatched its experts alongside Congo’s Rapid Response Team to Kasai province to strengthen disease surveillance, treatment and infection prevention and control in health facilities. It is also delivering supplies including personal protective equipment, mobile laboratory equipment and medical supplies.

Congo has a stockpile of treatments and of the Ervebo Ebola vaccine, WHO said.

"We had previously prepositioned 2,000 doses of Ebola vaccine in Kinshasa, which we are releasing to vaccinate contacts and health workers," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

It's the 16th outbreak of Ebola in Congo, and Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba said the fatality rate, estimated at 53.6%, showed the gravity of the situation. . . .

And in some ways, this too is an echo of the "loco" GOP political events -- as USAID remains hamstrung in the region -- in its former role, funding the fight against the dread ebola virus. Now-a-days, about one of two who contract the virus die from it. That is a significant improvement, over 2014 -- when nearly nine of ten who got it were quickly fatalities -- but this 2025 outbreak would likely already be over, had USAID funding been available on the ground. As it is, 15 are confirmed dead -- and that number will grow in the coming weeks. Damn -- onward, resolutely, just the same.

Post Scriptum: I am monitoring the local "block reports" [privately vetted, and locally administered apps (with end-to-end secure comms), run by the (312) legal aid societies. . . with input from the fine workers at the Catholic charities] -- inside Uptown, Humbolt Park and Pilsen, for any sign that I need to roll over there, on a moment's notice. I have a go bag all set, at the front door -- we are beyond ready. Know that, Manchurian Cantaloupe.

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