Ebola kills 1,700 in eastern Congo as fastest-growing outbreak surges

In eastern Congo, a rapid-growing Ebola outbreak has claimed over 1,700 lives, according to the most recent government data. As of Tuesday, 3,802 cases had been documented, with 1,707 fatalities. The outbreak, which began on May 15, is primarily concentrated in the remote Ituri province, accounting for nearly 90% of the cases, but has also spread to five other provinces and the city of Kisangani.

The Africa CDC Director-General, Dr. Jean Kaseya, visited Bunia, the town near the outbreak's epicenter, to caution that nearly 80% of new cases are not traced through contact tracing but are instead the result of community spread. The challenges facing the response include delays in contact tracing, difficulties accessing affected areas, mistrust from communities, and violence from armed groups and some residents.

The outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. Healthcare workers in the heavily impacted town of Mongbwalu have issued an ultimatum, threatening to escalate their actions if their unpaid wages are not addressed within 24 hours. The World Health Organization reports that over 100 healthcare workers have been infected since the beginning of the outbreak, and the response is further hampered by a funding gap, ongoing conflict, and mistrust among local communities.