Health officials in Africa confirmed on Wednesday that over two months after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency, there have been 1,031 deaths linked to the ongoing Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Earlier this year, infections began rising sharply in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, where economic activities have been struggling. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus suggested that while the outbreak was being tackled in June, it might have started as early as January. His organization raised alarms in May about a troubling situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The current Ebola outbreak is regarded as one of the most severe in history and is exacerbated by conditions in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. The area faces extreme violence from armed groups contending for control over illegal mining, which has forced many people to flee. Local populations are often reluctant to accept assistance, with some denying Ebola exists, attacking healthcare workers, and avoiding quarantine, complicating treatment efforts. Moreover, the Ebola strain affecting Ituri and Bundibugyo, North Kivu, is a less common variety, and there are no known treatments or vaccines available for it.
The government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced that as of Wednesday, there were 2,473 reported cases linked to the outbreak, with 999 deaths noted, resulting in a mortality rate of about 40 percent. This figure may be slightly lower since not all Ebola cases have been identified. Later that day, Jean Kaseya, Director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control (CDC), remarked that the death toll has surpassed 1,000.
According to the Associated Press the current outbreak is happening at an unprecedented rate, with more people dying faster than in any previous epidemic. This has been contrasted with the outbreaks from 2013 to 2016 in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, where it took eight months to reach 1,000 deaths. That outbreak ultimately claimed over 11,000 lives. Alarmingly, more than 80 percent of new cases are in individuals who haven’t been identified via contact tracing.
“The Ebola outbreak is escalating rapidly, and immediate action is essential,” warned Africa CDC Director Jean Kaseya this week. “If we don’t act now, this could become the worst epidemic recorded in history… We need to utilize all available resources, enhance our response on the ground, and halt this outbreak before more lives are lost.”
Efforts to contain the outbreak are facing substantial resistance from local communities. Many individuals in the Democratic Republic of Congo view Ebola skeptically, often considering it an excuse to introduce foreign aid workers under the guise of population control. This distrust has led to attacks on health facilities, patients fleeing hospitals to evade treatment, and unauthorized burials to shield mourners from contracting the disease.
In May, Tedros criticized the lack of community engagement in contact tracing efforts, noting that local residents sometimes obstructed initiatives to combat the outbreak. In June, he wrote to residents of Ituri, urging them to accept assistance from the UN and humanitarian organizations.
“Engage with your friends and family about what you know regarding Ebola,” he urged youth publicly. “Help us dismantle the fear and silence that facilitate the virus’s spread. Your influence is crucial now more than ever.”
Local media sources in Congo highlight ongoing distrust toward public health authorities. In a report dated July 20, the National Council of Humanitarian NGO Forum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (CONAFOD-DRC) called for the government to enhance collaboration with local and traditional leaders.
“Despite some health advancements, the response encounters significant hurdles,” reported Radio Okapi, quoting the group. “Misleading rumors, denial of contact with health authorities, and risky secret burials continue to propagate the outbreak.”
Moreover, Radio Okapi noted that regional governor Jean Bacomito Gambou expressed concerns over a “significant psychological and social challenge” that complicates containing the disease.
“Preventive measures are hindered by members of the community who deny the virus’s existence, labelling the disease as fabricated. This denial results in widespread rejection of health protocols, including refusals to be tested or monitored for symptoms,” Gambu stated.
Lastly, Robert Njalonga, a civil protection leader in Ituri, pointed out that “the biggest challenge remains the resistance, or complete refusal, from certain communities to accept response teams.” “In several instances, burial teams have required security escorts for dignified burials.”
