5 challenges Congo faces in containing its fast-moving Ebola outbreak

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is posing significant challenges for the country's health authorities in containing the virus, as Africa's top public health agency warns that the outbreak has not yet peaked. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the outbreak has expanded from three health zones to 60, resulting in 6,250 cases and 3,039 deaths since its declaration in mid-May.

The current outbreak is more severe than the 2014-2016 West African Ebola outbreak, which recorded over 11,000 deaths.

According to a recent report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are five areas where Congo's response to the outbreak is still falling short. Limited community-based surveillance systems are a major gap in the response, as delays in detection, reluctance to report cases, and inadequate community engagement are contributing to preventable deaths. At least 63% of the recorded deaths in the past week occurred outside Ebola treatment centers.

To address this issue, authorities are implementing a "village-centered approach," collaborating with community leaders to build trust and improve collaboration with residents. However, Ituri province, where the outbreak is concentrated, is also the epicenter of the rebel conflict in eastern Congo, further complicating efforts to gain residents' trust. The head of emergency preparedness and response at Africa CDC, Yap Boum, acknowledged the complexity of building trust in the midst of an outbreak.