11,700 Vaccinated
According CNN, Since August 8, the Ministry has been inoculating people at high risk of an Ebola infection: primary and secondary contacts of those with confirmed Ebola infections.
More than 11,700 people have now been vaccinated, according Salama, who described this as "the largest scale we have ever seen of the use of Ebola vaccine in the midst of a response."
Despite the successful Ebola vaccine campaign, WHO encountered some community resistance in a small village, Ndindi, surrounding the city of Beni. Ndindi has been responsible for a large number of Ebola cases over the last few weeks.
The experimental rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, made by pharmaceutical company Merck, proved highly protective against the deadly virus in a major trial in Guinea, according to WHO.
Ebola virus spreads through direct contact with either bodily fluids or objects contaminated by someone ill with the disease, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In some cases, the virus is spread from contact with someone who has died from the disease. The virus enters the body through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose or mouth. People can get it through sexual contact, as well.
"Beyond the medical response, the only way to end the Ebola Virus Disease epidemic remains the mobilization and commitment of the community alongside the health authorities," Kalenga said in a statement.
Salama called for continued response from the International Community to ensure provinces and countries are prepared.
"We call on governments In surrounding countries to accelerate their preparedness, which they have begun, to ensure that if - as is increasingly possible - this outbreak spreads across international borders we are all collectively prepared to top it before it gets out of control," he said.
More than 11,700 people have now been vaccinated, according Salama, who described this as "the largest scale we have ever seen of the use of Ebola vaccine in the midst of a response."
Despite the successful Ebola vaccine campaign, WHO encountered some community resistance in a small village, Ndindi, surrounding the city of Beni. Ndindi has been responsible for a large number of Ebola cases over the last few weeks.
The experimental rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, made by pharmaceutical company Merck, proved highly protective against the deadly virus in a major trial in Guinea, according to WHO.
Ebola virus spreads through direct contact with either bodily fluids or objects contaminated by someone ill with the disease, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In some cases, the virus is spread from contact with someone who has died from the disease. The virus enters the body through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose or mouth. People can get it through sexual contact, as well.
"Beyond the medical response, the only way to end the Ebola Virus Disease epidemic remains the mobilization and commitment of the community alongside the health authorities," Kalenga said in a statement.
Salama called for continued response from the International Community to ensure provinces and countries are prepared.
"We call on governments In surrounding countries to accelerate their preparedness, which they have begun, to ensure that if - as is increasingly possible - this outbreak spreads across international borders we are all collectively prepared to top it before it gets out of control," he said.