Health workers strike in Congo Ebola outbreak as new province reports suspected cases

Health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo's ongoing Ebola outbreak have initiated a strike due to unpaid wages and bonuses, raising concerns about the potential impact on containment efforts. The strike comes as suspected cases have been reported in a new province, Tshopo, with the overall death toll reaching 600.

The outbreak, declared on May 15, has officially infected 1,759 people across the eastern provinces of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. However, the government's latest report includes two suspected cases in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province, which are currently undergoing validation. One of these cases is linked to the Niania health zone in Ituri, while the second case has no apparent geographic link beyond Kisangani.

In response to the new suspected cases, response teams have begun to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing, and other containment measures in Kisangani. Reuters had previously reported that Congolese health authorities were tracing individuals potentially exposed in Tshopo and Haut-Uele provinces, which had not previously been affected.

The situation report from Wednesday night documented 51 new cases and 20 new deaths in the preceding 24 hours. The World Health Organization has indicated that the outbreak is still expanding, fueled by population movement, and has not yet stabilized.