The Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing an Ebola outbreak, with confirmed cases rising to 3,262. This number, reported by the Ministry of Health, matches the figures from the 2018-2020 outbreak, the country’s largest recorded. Data shows that 1,437 of these cases have resulted in death. Officials have noted this outbreak as the fastest-spreading recorded, mainly affecting the eastern Ituri province.
The 2018-2020 outbreak, impacting Congo and neighboring Uganda, lasted around two years with over 3,400 cases and more than 2,200 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak was worse, with 28,000 cases and over 11,000 deaths.
The current outbreak is spreading quickly amidst concerns that many communities in affected provinces are inaccessible. Security issues, including recent attacks by angry residents and rebel groups, have forced response teams to leave these areas. Onesphore Bangenza, head of the Mercy Corps response team in Bunia, Ituri’s capital, expressed alarm that the case count in just 10 weeks has nearly equaled that of a two-year outbreak, highlighting the virus’s rapid transmission.
Declared on May 15, this outbreak is unique due to the Bundibugyo virus strain, which lacks approved vaccines or treatments. Efforts to control the virus face challenges from ongoing rebel violence in eastern Congo and health workers on strike over unpaid wages. Despite an expanding response, the outbreak continues outpacing containment efforts. Officials are yet to identify the outbreak’s patient zero. Conflict-driven displacement and illegal mining hinder tracing contacts of infected individuals.
Distrust between local communities and health workers was significant during the outbreak’s early stages but there’s now progress. Fabrice Mumbesa, from the mining town of Mongbwalu where treatment centers were previously burned, voiced a change in community attitude, emphasizing the need to combat Ebola for a return to normal life. He stated, “We can no longer fight against Ebola teams after losing family members.”
Reporter McMakin contributed to this article from Dakar, Senegal.
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