Congo isolates 200 river boat passengers as Ebola response intensifies

The Democratic Republic of Congo has tested and isolated about 200 passengers from a river boat intercepted in Kinshasa after a traveller died of suspected Ebola. Africa CDC says the move is aimed at containing the outbreak as authorities weigh broader vaccination efforts.

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said on Thursday that all passengers aboard the intercepted boat were tested, including those without symptoms, to ensure no infections were missed.

Pending laboratory results from the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB), the passengers have been prevented from entering Kinshasa and placed in isolation as a precaution.

The boat was intercepted after carrying a man who later died of suspected Ebola, raising concerns about potential transmission along the Congo River route.

Vaccination strategy

Kaseya said authorities are considering using vaccines originally developed against the Zaire strain of Ebola to help curb the current outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

According to Africa CDC, preliminary data suggest that people previously vaccinated against the Zaire strain may still contract Bundibugyo Ebola, but experience only mild illness.

More importantly, Kaseya said, no deaths have been recorded among vaccinated individuals, encouraging officials to expand the strategy while further evidence is gathered.

Health worker strikes

Kaseya also sought to reassure the public over recent strikes by healthcare workers in eastern Congo, saying the government had committed funds to pay frontline staff.

He said Congolese authorities had assured Africa CDC that health workers would receive their salaries, allowing response efforts to focus on surveillance, testing, vaccination and patient care as the outbreak continues.