KINSHASA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Monday launched a vaccination campaign against the Ebola haemorrhagic fever epidemic in its northwest province of Equateur.

An official launch ceremony for the vaccination campaign was held in front of Mbandaka City Hall in the presence of Health Minister Oly Ilunga and World Health Organization (WHO) experts.

In an interview with Xinhua before he left for Equateur province, the health minister said the vaccination will follow at least three steps.

After the vaccination of the medical staff, the treatment will immediately be administered to the patients and those in contact with them.

The WHO sent a batch of 4,300 doses of experimental vaccine against the epidemic to Kinshasa on May 16. A new batch of 3,200 doses is also expected in Kinshasa.

The minister said the advantage with this vaccine is that it will serve to break the chain of spread of the epidemic.

According to the health ministry, a total of 46 cases of haemorrhagic fever were reported in the region, including 21 confirmed Ebola, 21 probable and four suspected.