Ebola cases near 4,000 as DRC struggles to contain fast-spreading outbreak
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading faster than efforts to fight it, the head of the World Health Organization has warned, with nearly 4,000 confirmed cases so far. With five provinces known to be affected, authorities in Kinshasa are concerned about the deadly virus reaching the capital.
In Ituri province, eastern Congo, health worker Wiza Bondele dedicates his daily efforts to curtail the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history. Operating at an Ebola treatment hospital in the outbreak's epicenter, Bondele disinfects contaminated areas, screens visitors for fever, and enforces stringent handwashing protocols. Unpaid for his tireless service since the outbreak's declaration in May, Bondele, like many other frontline workers, including burial teams and drivers, faces considerable risk in his vital role.
Concern over poor welfare for these essential personnel has surfaced as a significant issue. Attacks on health teams and facilities, coupled with payment problems, have caused some health workers to resign, disrupting critical care in the rapidly spreading outbreak. Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials.
With over 4,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,800 deaths, this outbreak is the second-largest on record, following the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak which recorded more than 28,000 cases and over 11,000 deaths. Another outbreak in 2018-2020 claimed at least 2,200 lives. This current outbreak is associated with the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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