Bunia Faces Growing Ebola Outbreak
BUNIA, Democratic Republic of Congo — Eliezer Kasongo initially believed that the Ebola outbreak would pass quickly. However, as the situation escalated, he saw the reality unfold around him.
“When we began to witness deaths in the community, it became clearer,” remarked Kasongo, a community volunteer from Bunia, the capital of Ituri province. Despite previous skepticism, the 25-year-old now dedicates his time to promoting awareness about the disease.
Ituri is at the heart of Congo’s current Ebola outbreak, officially declared by the government on May 15. Prior to that, the virus appeared to be spreading unnoticed for weeks, particularly in a remote mining town known as Mongbwalu.
As of June 13, there were 782 confirmed Ebola cases reported in eastern Congo, along with 181 confirmed fatalities. But these figures likely fall short, as health and aid officials cite delays in testing and unreported deaths in remote areas.
One month after the outbreak’s declaration, Bunia is dotted with signs of the Ebola response. Handwashing stations have become commonplace, and announcements in the central square urge residents of Ituri not to panic.
With a population exceeding one million, Bunia now accounts for the highest number of cases—212, according to official data. Many locals are open to receiving guidance, though Kasongo and his coworkers occasionally encounter resistance.
“There’s a pervasive fear,” acknowledges Kasongo, “with people dying daily.”
On the day of our visit, a man on a motorbike taxi suddenly vomited blood and died in the city center. Health teams quickly arrived to retrieve the body and disinfect the area, while grieving family members were left standing nearby.
Witnesses reported that the taxi driver fled the scene, highlighting the challenges health personnel face in identifying suspected cases, which is vital for containing the outbreak.
The Congolese health ministry reports that just 56% of contacts with confirmed cases have been traced across three provinces experiencing active Ebola transmission. This task is particularly challenging due to the presence of armed groups, poorly maintained roads, and densely populated towns.
Even though the Democratic Republic of the Congo is rich in minerals like copper and cobalt, it remains one of the poorest nations globally. The World Bank estimates that over 85% of its citizens live on around $3 a day.
Ituri, much like other areas in eastern Congo, has suffered from years of conflict, which has severely undermined its health infrastructure. The situation is becoming increasingly critical.
At Clinique Universelle, a hospital in Bunia, a decontamination team spent the weekend scrubbing down the facility with chlorine after a patient tested positive for Ebola, leading to its closure.
The hospital director, Patient Mazirane, expressed concerns about working without adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). Aid organizations have dispatched hundreds of metric tons of medicines and PPE, but it still falls short—items like protective gloves need frequent replacement.
Dr. Mazirane, 38, has contemplated leaving the profession, fearing for his children’s future if he were to fall ill. He mentioned that several medical staff have already lost their lives.
“We’re not just afraid; we’re very afraid,” he said.
