Key facts
- The death toll from Congo's Ebola outbreak has risen to 600.
- Confirmed cases now total 1,759.
- Suspected new cases have been reported in Kisangani, Tshopo province, an area previously unaffected.
- One suspected case in Kisangani is linked to the Nia-Nia health zone in Ituri.
- Another suspected case in Kisangani has no apparent geographical connection to known outbreaks.
- Healthcare workers are protesting delayed payments and demanding better treatment.
- The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which lacks an approved vaccine or treatment.
The death toll from Congo's latest Ebola outbreak has reached 600, with the total number of confirmed cases now at 1,759. The government reported two new suspected cases in Kisangani, located in the Tshopo province, an area previously unaffected by the outbreak. One of these suspected cases has a link to the Nia-Nia health zone in Ituri province, where the outbreak began, while the other case has no clear geographical connection to known outbreaks.
According to Anne Ancia, WHO’s representative in Congo, the virus continues to spread due to population movements and insecurity, with some treatment centers operating at near-full capacity. Adding to the challenges, some healthcare workers in Ituri have not received payment since the outbreak was declared. Biensi Kano, a member of the epidemiological surveillance committee in Bunia, stated that the non-payment of benefits causes significant socio-economic difficulties and undermines living conditions.
Healthcare staff also reported working with limited equipment and facing unfair treatment from authorities and response teams. Congo's government has not yet commented on these allegations. Officials in Ituri, however, indicated that they have met with the workers and are addressing their concerns. Akilimali Pierre, incident manager at Congo’s National Institute of Public Health, explained that the closure of Bunia airport is hindering the response, including fund disbursement, which may contribute to payment delays.
Health workers also face challenges such as attacks from residents and skepticism regarding the virus. The Ebola outbreak was officially declared on May 15 by Congolese authorities, after weeks of undetected transmission. The current outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. Clinical trials for a potential treatment were recently launched.