BUNIA, Congo– Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surpassed 11,000 cases, the government announced Wednesday, a grim figure that underscores the severity of the situation as the country grapples with the spread of the disease.
According to the latest health ministry data, 11,042 people have been infected with the deadly virus which has killed 5,387 people, almost half of those infected in what has been Congo’s deadliest outbreak.
The outbreak broke out in mid-May and since then Congolese authorities have struggled to contain it due to several factors, including armed conflict, a crisis in the health system, poor roads and violence by residents fueled by mistrust and misinformation.
The Bundibugyo virus responsible for this epidemic has no known vaccine or treatment and has spread to eight of the country’s 26 provinces.
The resurgence of violence in the two main hotspots of the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu has sparked concern among health authorities who are calling for an end to fighting to allow health workers unhindered access to the sick.
While Ituri accounts for nearly 70% of total cases, North Kivu has become the main site of new transmission, according to Congolese Health Minister Roger Kamba.
Health facilities and health professionals have also been targeted by many communities skeptical of the virus, and several attacks have been carried out against health workers.
The outbreak has affected some schools in Ituri, and more teachers have contracted the disease. Two school principals in Bunia, Ituri’s provincial capital, told The Associated Press they were worried about their teachers and students after losing staff members.
“Our students and the entire staff are traumatized. At this point, we need psychologists to support us because the situation is extremely difficult,” said Isaac Singoma, one of the principals.
Experts have called for more efforts to slow and contain the epidemic in Congo. The disease has spread to several African countries, including Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.
Dozens of Ebola outbreaks have been reported since the disease was discovered in 1976. The largest and deadliest occurred in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, with 28,000 infections and more than 11,000 deaths.
The current outbreak is already in second place and has recorded at least three times as many cases and deaths since it was declared, compared to the West African outbreak.
Gn Health
