Ebola Outbreak

New rules for weddings during the outbreak: “No kissing”

Couples celebrating their weddings during the Ebola outbreak in Congo-Kinshasa must adhere to special rules, reports the AP.

Benoît Nyange, whose relative just got married, says everyone is scared, and that the bride and groom skipped parts of the ceremony to avoid Ebola.

“There will be no kissing, we don’t touch each other, but everyone stays on their side,” he says.

The bride Solange Hahati and her new husband had invited 300 people to the wedding, but only 50 were allowed to go into the church.

“It felt incredibly sad, because we wanted to celebrate with all our friends.”

Analysis: Trust determines whether a vaccine stops the outbreak

The healthcare system has learned several lessons from the Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016. One is that it takes more than just a vaccine to stop the spread, writes Charlie Firth in an analysis in The Independent.

Public health measures, changes in behavior and commitment from society play at least as big a role, he believes.

“In many outbreaks, it has been the less visible measures that start to slow the spread of infection.”

In an analysis for CNN, doctor Sanjay Gupta writes that the best way to stop the spread of infection is to identify and isolate cases as quickly as possible.

That makes contact tracing very important, writes Gupta. But it is difficult in Congo-Kinshasa, where few trust hospitals and authorities.

During the last major outbreak, authorities and healthcare facilities received help from local and religious leaders who people already trusted, writes Charlie Firth. Together, for example, they were able to develop procedures for dignified burials that reduced the risk of infection.

“The success of the vaccine depends on more than whether it works in a clinical trial. Communication, commitment and trust determine how well it works in practice.”