The leader of the Africa Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (Africa CDC), is calling for stronger protections for first responders, including more gear and enhanced safety protocols in light of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which is officially entering its second month and showing little signs of slowed transmission.

Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya, MD, MPH, said that, as of July 9, 112 healthcare workers have been infected with Ebola since the outbreak began, including 35 who died. The outbreak now stands at 1,947 cases, and 704 deaths, with the vast majority of those in the DRC.

 Rapid disbursement of these commitments, together with additional resources, will strengthen protection for responders.

“Reliable protective equipment, strong infection prevention systems, continuous training, psychosocial support, and safe working conditions are essential for every person delivering this response,” said Kaseya in a statement. “We thank the governments and partners that have committed financial and operational support. Rapid disbursement of these commitments, together with additional resources, will strengthen protection for responders, expand essential operations and help teams stop every transmission chain.”

Unpaid salaries and inadequate protective equipment were cited as to why dozens of additional healthcare workers and responders in Ituri province went on strike today. Among the professionals who went on strike today at Rwampara General Hospital are epidemiologists, case investigators, drivers, and gravediggers who said the government has not yet paid them for their work. 

The DRC’s health minister told the Associated Press that any delays in payment are because officials are verifying the identities of health workers.

The Ebola outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which has caused only three confirmed outbreaks in history and has no targeted treatments or vaccines. 

Today, however, the University of Oxford’s Oxford Vaccine Group launched a phase 1 clinical trial of BD-Ebov, a vaccine against Bundibugyo ebolavirus. A total of 50 healthy adults ages 18 to 55 will be enrolled in the trial, which will assess safety and immune response. 

This trial is supported by funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and Serum Institute of India, which has manufactured and stockpiled approximately 620,000 doses of the vaccine for future use.

On June 10, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that a US citizen who was conducting humanitarian aid work in the DRC was infected with Ebola and transferred to Germany for treatment. 

This is the second-known American who has been infected during this outbreak, following Peter Stafford, MD, a medical doctor working in the DRC who was treated at Charite in Berlin and has made a full recovery.