Deaths in Congo’s Ebola outbreak surpass 5,000
Deaths in Congo’s Ebola outbreak have topped 5,000 as the country grapples with the relentless spread of the disease and cases are recorded in other African countries, reports BritPanorama.
Data from the Congolese Ministry of Health showed that the disease has killed 5,026 people out of 10,351 infected, at a nearly 50% lethality rate. This alarming surge has sparked concerns among experts regarding the authorities’ ability to contain the deadly virus.
The latest outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, was declared in mid-May, catching authorities by surprise. Since then, they have struggled to manage its spread.
This outbreak is already the second deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, following a two-year-long West Africa outbreak between 2014 and 2016, which claimed 11,000 lives across multiple countries.
“It is a very tragic milestone because it is just not a number,” said Dr. Patrick Otim, a program area manager with the World Health Organization. “It is families and communities that have been devastated by this outbreak. The number also shows the severity of this outbreak.”
So far, 2,788 people have recovered from the virus. The Bundibugyo virus has no known vaccine or treatment; instead, health workers treat patients based on symptoms.
Since May, the disease has spread to 67 out of the country’s 178 health zones across eight of its 26 provinces, with 50 of the affected health zones currently having active cases.
The virus has been concentrated in eastern Congo, particularly in Ituri and North Kivu, which have emerged as epicenters with 9,782 confirmed cases and 4,792 total deaths.
Authorities continue to struggle with contact tracing and testing, both crucial components in the effort to curb the outbreak.
According to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 80% of new cases are arising from outside the monitored contact chains, indicating a troubling share of infections are coming from unidentified sources.
Moreover, one-third of recorded deaths are attributed to victims who died outside treatment centers before being tested for Ebola, according to WHO’s Otim. These conditions contribute to community transmission beyond the immediate oversight of health workers who are equipped to manage infection through established medical protocols.
“These are people we never had the opportunity to try to save them, and it is one of the biggest concerns for us in this outbreak. How do we try to reach people early to get them to come to health facilities to get a fighting chance to survive?” Otim added.
The escalating number of infections in Congo follows a protracted list of challenges that have hindered containment efforts.
The eastern part of Congo, where the outbreak is concentrated, is home to a conflict between the government and various armed groups, notably the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, alongside an Islamist insurgency in bordering areas with Uganda, which restricts healthcare workers’ mobility.
Additionally, rampant disbelief within the population has led to violent incidents against health workers and facilities. For instance, a nurse was killed while responding to an Ebola alert last week, and a ruling party politician was shot in September after advocating for health measures on the radio.
Healthcare workers have staged multiple strikes, shutting down facilities where infected patients are treated due to longstanding delays in government payments.
On Friday, workers at an Ebola treatment center in Tchomia, Ituri, ceased operations to demand four months of unpaid wages. Currently, five confirmed Ebola patients and ten suspected cases are under care at the center.
“We are tired of requesting our salaries. If they want to pay us, they will… Today, being able to feed our families has become a real problem,” Moise Mugenyi, one of the striking workers, commented.
Dr. Justin Mukonkole, acting head of response operations in Ituri, urged the workers to be patient while the government addresses their concerns.
Similar situations have occurred in other health zones, such as Beni in North Kivu, where some treatment centers have come to a standstill. Alain Siwako, an elected public official in Beni, reported that cases are surging due to insufficient fuel and resources from the central government.
“Across Ituri and North Kivu, this outbreak is stretching everyone responding to it, including the communities themselves,” said Rose Tchwenko, Country Director for the DRC, Prosper Global.
In October, both Kenya and Nigeria confirmed Ebola cases. Kenya has reported eight cases and two deaths, while Nigeria’s sole confirmed case has been evacuated to Switzerland.
The confirmation of cases in these countries, alongside earlier instances in Uganda, marks this outbreak as the first recorded across three African regions, making it the continent’s most geographically widespread Ebola outbreak to date.
