WHO chief to visit DR Congo as death toll in Ebola outbreak reaches 220 people
發佈日期: 2026-05-27 20:29
TVB News
A pipeline of vaccines are under review by the World Health Organization in response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This as the death toll rises to 220 in the country.
Meanwhile, countries are implementing measures for those who are travelling from affected areas.
According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 900 suspected cases and 220 suspected deaths linked to Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as of Tuesday.
A global effort is being put into force as the head of the WHO Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus is expected to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, joining some 55 humanitarian partners already stationed in the affected areas.
In tandem with efforts on the ground, the WHO is reviewing vaccine development. Professor Teresa Lambe, Head of Vaccine Immunology of the Pandemic Sciences Institute at University of Oxford says work is under way to produce a vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain.
She says "We have been able to pivot rapidly and to start to make a vaccine against the Bundibugyo...Many people within the field were involved in the 2013, 2016 outbreak," and added: "During that period. that amount of knowledge, has really helped us be able to, pivot and try and make a vaccine against this new outbreak, that is happening in the DRC."
Meanwhile, countries are taking measures to keep Ebola out of their borders.
In Canada, citizens, permanent residents, and other exempt travellers who have visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan in the last 21 days will be required to self-isolate for 21 days beginning May 30. Residents from those countries will not be allowed to travel to Canada.
Some immigration document processing will be put on pause for the next 90 days.
US Customs and Border Protection adds Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport to the list of designated hubs in addition to Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Dulles International Airport to screen passengers who are travelling from affected African countries.
Thailand is also imposing 21-day Ebola quarantine on travellers arriving from DRC and Uganda.
