Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are struggling to contain a new Ebola outbreak in the country’s southern Kasai province, the first to hit the region in almost two decades.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said limited access to remote communities and a shortage of funding are hampering the response.
To speed up delivery of medical supplies, a United Nations peacekeeping helicopter has transported hundreds of vaccine doses to the province, with an additional 1,500 doses expected to arrive from the capital, Kinshasa.
Since the outbreak was confirmed in early September, suspected cases have risen from 28 to 68, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). At least 16 people have died.
The crisis comes at a time of reduced international support.
Recent U.S. funding cuts have raised concern among health officials, who note that Washington previously played a key role in fighting Ebola in Congo.
In 2021, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) provided up to $11.5 million to support outbreak responses across the continent.
Authorities warn that without additional resources, efforts to contain the virus could falter, posing risks of further spread within the region.
