Congolese authorities have reported that suspected Ebola cases have now surpassed 900 in the ongoing outbreak in the eastern part of the country. The Ministry of Communication announced on Sunday that there are 904 suspected cases and 119 suspected deaths. This follows earlier reports of more than 700 suspected cases and over 170 suspected deaths, primarily in Ituri province, which remains the epicenter of the outbreak.
WHO Assessment and Challenges
The World Health Organization has stated that the outbreak poses a "very high" risk for the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the risk of global spread remains low. Health authorities face significant challenges in containing the outbreak, which has been declared a global health emergency. Recent arson attacks on Ebola treatment centers in the east—two centers in two towns were targeted last week—highlight the anger in a region plagued by violence from armed rebel groups, mass displacement, local government failures, and international aid cuts that have weakened health facilities in vulnerable communities.
Community Anger and Burial Protocols
Colin Thomas-Jensen, director of impact at the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, suggested that the attacks may reflect "built-in skepticism and anger" among people in eastern Congo over the region's treatment, including years of violence from foreign-linked rebel groups and inadequate protection from the government and international peacekeepers. Another source of tension is the strict protocols surrounding burials of suspected Ebola victims. Authorities have taken charge of burials to prevent further spread, but traditional practices—where families prepare bodies and gather for funerals—have been disrupted. The first burning of an Ebola center in Rwampara was reportedly carried out by young men attempting to retrieve a friend's body, with witnesses saying the crowd accused the foreign aid group of lying about Ebola.
Security Measures and Rebel Activity
In response, authorities in northeastern Congo have banned funeral wakes and gatherings of more than 50 people, with armed soldiers and police guarding some burials conducted by aid workers. Eastern Congo has long experienced attacks by numerous rebel and militant groups, some with foreign links or ties to the Islamic State group. The Rwanda-backed M23 rebels control parts of the region, while the Congolese government's hold on Ituri province, the outbreak's center, is tenuous. The Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan Islamist group linked to Islamic State, is a dominant rebel group responsible for violent attacks on civilians.
Healthcare System Strain
Doctors Without Borders reported that insecurity in Ituri has worsened recently, causing medical staff to flee and leaving health facilities overwhelmed, with some areas facing "catastrophic conditions." The UN humanitarian office estimates that nearly 1 million people have been displaced by conflict in Ituri. Gabriela Arenas, a regional coordinator at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, noted that the Ebola outbreak is "unfolding in communities already facing insecurity, displacement and fragile healthcare systems." There are concerns the disease could spread to large displacement camps near Bunia, where the first cases were reported.
Impact of Aid Cuts
Health experts say international aid cuts by the US and other wealthy nations last year have been devastating for eastern Congo, given its multiple crises. Thomas McHale, public health director at Physicians for Human Rights, stated that the cuts "reduced the capacity to detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks." Congo has experienced over a dozen previous Ebola outbreaks. Aid groups on the ground report shortages of essential equipment, including face shields, protective suits, testing kits, body bags, and other materials needed for safe burials. "We have made requests to different partners, but we have not yet really received anything," said Julienne Lusenge, president of Women's Solidarity for Inclusive Peace and Development, which runs a small hospital near Bunia. "We only have hand sanitiser and a few masks for the nurses," she added. The Bundibugyo type of Ebola virus responsible for the outbreak has no approved vaccine or treatment.
