The number of suspected Ebola cases in the Congo has exceeded 900
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is rapidly worsening. The number of suspected cases has already exceeded 900, and medical workers are forced to operate amid armed conflict, attacks on hospitals, and a severe shortage of resources.
This is reported by The Guardian.
The DRC Ministry of Health reported that as of Sunday, there were 904 suspected cases of Ebola and 119 probable deaths. Previously, authorities had reported over 700 cases and more than 170 deaths, most of which occurred in Ituri Province—the epicenter of the new outbreak.
The World Health Organization stated that the situation poses a “very high” risk to the DRC, although the threat of global spread of the disease is currently assessed as low.
The situation is significantly complicated by the unstable security situation in the east of the country, where fighting continues between government forces and numerous armed groups.
Last week, two Ebola treatment centers in the region were set on fire. According to witnesses, one of the attacks was carried out by a group of young men who demanded the return of their friend’s body. Some local residents accused international humanitarian workers of spreading allegedly false information about the disease.
Due to the threat of the infection spreading, authorities have banned memorial services and mass gatherings of more than 50 people. Some funerals are now held under military and police guard.
Eastern Congo has been in a state of armed conflict for many years. Parts of the territory are controlled by the M23 rebels, who are supported by Rwanda. Although Ituri Province formally remains under government control, the situation there remains extremely unstable.
Even before the new outbreak began, Doctors Without Borders warned that due to the deteriorating security situation, some medical personnel had left the region. As a result, hospitals became overwhelmed, and in some areas, “catastrophic conditions” for providing care emerged.
Of particular concern are the camps for displaced persons near the city of Bunia, where the first cases of infection were reported.
According to medical professionals, the outbreak was caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. There is currently no approved vaccine or effective treatment for this strain.
In addition, humanitarian organizations report a critical shortage of funding and medical equipment following cuts in international aid from the U.S. and other Western nations.
More than 200 people may have already died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a result of the Ebola outbreak. The situation is complicated by attacks on medical facilities and violence in the eastern regions of the country, which are hindering efforts to combat the infection.
Earlier reports indicated that the 17th Ebola outbreak had been recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, claiming the lives of 80 people. This time, the disease was likely caused by the little-studied Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain, rather than the more common Zaire ebolavirus.
Three Red Cross volunteers have died in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after contracting the Ebola virus. They were working in the city of Mongbwalu, which is now considered the epicenter of the outbreak. It is believed that the infection may have occurred even before the spread of the virus was officially detected.
