The Democratic Republic of Congo's latest Ebola outbreak has claimed 600 lives, with the government reporting suspected cases in a province that had previously been untouched by the virus. The total number of confirmed cases across the country now stands at 1,759, according to the Congolese health authorities.
Two new suspected cases have been identified in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province in the north-central part of the country. Tshopo borders Ituri province, where the outbreak began in May. One of the suspected cases is linked to the Nia-Nia health zone in Ituri, while the other has no apparent geographical connection to known outbreaks, the government's latest report stated.
Outbreak Spreads Amid Insecurity and Population Movements
The virus continues to spread, driven by population movements and ongoing insecurity in the region. Anne Ancia, the World Health Organization's representative in Congo, noted that some treatment centres are operating at near-full capacity, straining the response effort.
The outbreak, declared on 15 May after the disease had been transmitting undetected for weeks, is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, there is no approved vaccine or treatment for Bundibugyo. Last week, researchers launched a clinical trial in the hope of finding an effective treatment.
Healthcare Workers Protest Unpaid Wages
In Ituri province, healthcare workers are walking off their jobs, protesting that they have not been paid since the outbreak was declared. Biensi Kano, a member of the epidemiological surveillance committee in Bunia, the provincial capital, told the Associated Press: "Since the Ebola virus disease outbreak was declared, we've been demanding payment for our work."
Kano added that the non-payment of benefits "exposes us and our families to significant socio-economic difficulties and seriously undermines our living conditions." Staff also allege they are working with limited equipment and being treated unfairly by authorities and response teams.
Officials in Ituri acknowledged the grievances, saying they have met with workers and are addressing their concerns. Akilimali Pierre, incident manager at Congo's National Institute of Public Health, attributed the payment delays partly to logistical challenges: "The fact that Bunia airport is closed is hampering the very implementation of the response, particularly certain aspects of the flow of funds."
Health workers face additional challenges, including attacks from angry residents and widespread scepticism about the virus. The situation underscores the difficulties of containing an outbreak in a region marked by conflict and mistrust.
While the outbreak remains concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, its implications extend beyond the continent. European health authorities have remained vigilant, with countries like France having treated imported cases in the past. In 2021, France's first Ebola patient, a humanitarian doctor, was discharged after recovery, highlighting the interconnected nature of global health security.
The WHO has called for increased international support to contain the outbreak, warning that without adequate funding and coordination, the virus could spread further. For now, the focus remains on containing the disease in Congo, where the death toll continues to rise.
