Kinshasa: African health authorities have announced the initiation of using a vaccine for the Zaire ebolavirus strain to address the current outbreak of a different, rapidly spreading strain known as Bundibugyo. This outbreak is currently concentrated in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to Deutsche Welle, Jean Kaseya, the director general of the African Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC), informed reporters via videoconference on Thursday that there is evidence indicating the vaccine's effectiveness in eliminating fatalities, though it may not prevent symptoms in test cases conducted thus far.
The Africa CDC, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, is also set to embark on research to investigate potential mutations or abnormalities in the ongoing outbreak. This strain of the virus is noted for its transmission rate, which is six to eight times faster than any previously recorded outbreak.