GENEVA:Vaccination of health workers against the deadly Ebola virus has begun in the Democratic Republic of Congo to try to halt an outbreak in the volatile east of the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.So far 43 people are believed to have been infected in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, including 36 who have died, Congo's health ministry said on Tuesday.
More than 900 contacts of those infected have been identified for monitoring, although security is an issue in the area where militia groups operate, WHO said..
The disease, which causes fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, is spread through direct contact with body fluids.
"Around 40 health workers are expected to be vaccinated today; by end of the week, once all the necessary steps are in place, vaccination of community contacts and their contacts will commence," WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said.
WHO has said that analysis of genetic sequencing showed it was a new outbreak -- separate from the one 2,500 km (1,500 miles) away in the northwest that ended less than two weeks ago after killing 33 -- but the same Zaire strain.
The experimental vaccine being used, which is manufactured by Merck, proved successful during its first wide-scale usage against the previous outbreak in Equateur Province. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Tom Miles and Catherine Evans)