Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Every day, Sophie Mwadawa Kabundo reports to her job as a nurse at an Ebola treatment center in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. She harbors fears of contracting the virus and unintentionally spreading it to her family and friends.

“We’re seeing more confirmed cases coming in… Some colleagues have already died,” Kabundo shared. “It’s worrying, despite our efforts to stay safe. We dread the thought of accidents happening at work that could put us in even more danger. And every night, we go to sleep anxious about what tomorrow may bring, with more patients arriving continuously.”

Martin Bolombi, a fellow worker at the Elikya treatment centre in Bunia, which is situated in the worst-affected province, Ituri, echoes her concerns. “To be honest, this outbreak is really stressing me out,” he admitted. “But I have to muster my courage and make sure we regain control of the situation before it can stabilize.”

It’s remarkable that they continue to work under such circumstances, especially since neither of them is currently receiving payment for their efforts. Bolombi noted, “I’ve been working since May and haven’t been compensated since June.” He was among a group of around 100 people who protested at the Elikya treatment center last month due to unpaid bonuses.

Kabundo also expressed frustration over unpaid wages. “We aren’t getting paid, and we urgently need the government to sort this out,” she said. “There’s so much pressure on us. We face the risk of infection, and our loved ones could contract the disease from us.”

The issue of unpaid wages is just one hurdle—misinformation, community mistrust, and inadequate infrastructure are also significant barriers to controlling the outbreak in one of the world’s poorest regions. The outbreak has claimed over 2,500 lives so far, spreading rapidly across an area larger than France, according to the senior UN Ebola coordinator, Julien Harneis. He highlighted during a video call from Bunia that aid is desperately needed, as existing funds are at risk of depletion soon. He reported that 160 healthcare workers have fallen ill, with 43 deaths among them.

“The outbreak is advancing faster and broader than our response efforts,” he said. “This is happening in an area with a history of conflict over three decades, leading to immense humanitarian needs.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that this outbreak could surpass the devastating Ebola crisis of 2014-2016 in West Africa, which documented over 28,600 cases and 11,325 fatalities. The current infections in DRC are attributed to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus. There are neither approved treatments nor vaccines for this strain, although trials are currently being conducted.

Bolombi, who claims he works seven days a week, noted that even when logistics have improved, it’s just not enough to meet the growing needs as the situation worsens. Despite the immense challenges and lack of compensation, Kabundo feels a sense of pride in the number of recoveries at the Elikya treatment center. “It’s encouraging to see progress, but it’s not a reason to relax our efforts,” she emphasized.

The Congolese health ministry has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding the situation.

Ebola spreads to humans from wild animals and can then be transmitted person-to-person through direct contact with bodily fluids. It also spreads via contaminated surfaces and materials. Initial symptoms may include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, and sore throat, which can progress to more severe symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.

There’s a strong sense of mistrust and misinformation that often leads those infected to avoid seeking medical care until it’s too late. There have even been attacks on health facilities and ambulances. Dr. Eddy Kambale Kahandukya from Médicins Sans Frontières emphasized that without better community engagement, it will be difficult to break the transmission chain. “Many patients with suspected symptoms seek refuge in their communities, inadvertently creating new clusters that only exacerbate the outbreak,” he explained.

Fear plays a significant role in this mistrust, as noted by Manon Dumortier, an emergency coordinator for Mercy Corps. “It’s frightening. There’s a sudden surge in deaths, and no one is sure why,” she reflected. “People vanish—go to health centers—and before you know it, they’re buried without a chance to say goodbye. This only fuels speculation and rumors.”

The WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern last May but later found that it had actually begun months earlier in February. The virus has now spread to six of the DRC’s 26 provinces, primarily in the northeastern region, with more than 4,200 confirmed cases in Ituri, which borders Uganda and South Sudan.

Uganda reported 20 cases and two deaths, all in Kampala, before officially declaring itself Ebola-free on July 28 after the last patient was released from care on July 16.