WHO warns DRC Ebola outbreak spreading at unprecedented rate as strike hampers response
The World Health Organization has declared the Democratic Republic of Congo’s 17th Ebola outbreak the third-largest on record, noting that transmission is accelerating faster than any previous iteration.
The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to at least 930, with the World Health Organization warning that the virus is spreading faster than in any previous epidemic in the country. The health ministry confirmed on Monday that 2,344 cases have been recorded as of Saturday, including 37 new deaths in a single 24-hour period from Friday, marking one of the highest daily increases since the outbreak was declared on 15 May.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the current crisis as the third-largest Ebola outbreak on record, highlighting a stark contrast in transmission velocity compared to the 2018-2020 epidemic. While the previous outbreak took more than 10 months to reach 2,000 confirmed cases, the current outbreak achieved that threshold in just two months. Tedros noted that the true number of cases could be at least double the official count, as more than 80 percent of new infections are being detected outside known contact lists, indicating significant gaps in containment efforts.
The outbreak originated in Ituri, a mineral-rich province in the northeast that has been patrolled by various armed groups. From this epicentre, the virus has spread to five DRC provinces and neighbouring Uganda. Although Uganda is reportedly close to being virus-free, the situation within the DRC remains critical, with the health ministry reporting that 724 patients are currently in isolation. The ministry stated that patient care capacities are consolidating, recording 22 new recoveries in the last 24 hours.
Compounding the public health emergency is a labour dispute in Ituri that is obstructing medical access. Healthcare workers have gone on strike, blocking the entrance to Bunia General Hospital due to unpaid compensation. Staff members have complained that they have not received any payment for their work since the outbreak began, despite treating patients in difficult and dangerous conditions. The strike threatens to further disrupt response efforts in the province, which is currently seeing the fastest growth in the death toll.
As the outbreak gathers pace, the WHO continues to intensify its response efforts in affected areas. The agency’s assessment underscores the severity of the crisis, with the rapid expansion of cases and the disruption of healthcare services presenting a complex challenge for authorities in the DRC.
