• Ebola outbreak in Congo results in over 31 deaths and 48 confirmed cases.
• Vaccination efforts for healthcare workers and contacts are underway.
• WHO has deployed experts and medical supplies to combat the outbreak.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that over 31 people have died from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo amidst the country's first outbreak in three years. As of now, there are 48 confirmed and probable cases following the outbreak declaration on September 5 near the locality of Bulape in the Kasai region. The WHO is assisting Congo's government by providing over 14 tons of medical supplies and deploying experts to manage the crisis, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

The outbreak has seen a rapid increase in fatalities, with the casualty rate nearly doubling in recent days. More than 900 contacts have been identified, with vaccinations for healthcare workers and potential contacts beginning in mid-September. Dr. Patrick Otim from the WHO reported that over 500 healthcare workers have already been vaccinated, providing crucial protection against the virus, as highlighted by Africanews.

Despite the urgent measures taken, challenges in accessibility have hindered the rapid deployment of vaccines. The WHO officials indicated that vaccines have been transported in small batches due to inadequate storage facilities in Bulape, according to Africanews. Simultaneously, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory but currently assesses the risk of spread beyond Congo as low, according to Reuters.