Ebola spreads exponentially in Congo as death toll tops 2,500, says UN

The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing an Ebola outbreak that has claimed over 2,500 lives, according to senior UN Ebola coordinator Julien Harneis. The epidemic is spreading rapidly, covering an area larger than France, and is accelerating at an exponential rate, Harneis stated during a video call from Bunia, a city in northeastern Congo.

Harneis emphasized the urgent need for increased aid, warning that the existing pool of funds will be depleted within weeks. He highlighted that healthcare workers and frontline responders have been targeted by locals, who are driven by fear and anger. Over 160 healthcare workers have contracted Ebola, and 43 have perished. Additionally, there have been more than 260 attacks on health workers in the past six months, resulting in eight fatalities.

The outbreak, which began in late July, is the largest in Congo's history, surpassing the previous worst outbreak in 2018 to 2020. The Bundibugyo species of Ebola, responsible for the current epidemic, lacks approved vaccines or treatments. The growing number of cases, coupled with the ongoing conflict in the region, has created immense humanitarian needs.

The situation is further complicated by conspiracy theories linking the outbreak to a hoax and the refusal of some locals to comply with health restrictions.