Congo Ebola Deaths Reach 1,309 As Health Workers Strike Over Pay

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to worsen, with confirmed cases approaching 3,000 and the death toll rising above 1,300. According to data released by the Congolese government, the country has recorded 2,973 confirmed infections and 1,309 deaths, making it the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in the nation's history. The crisis has been further complicated by a strike by healthcare workers at the Elikya Ebola Treatment Centre in Bunia, disrupting medical services in one of the outbreak's worst-affected areas.

Doctors, nurses and security personnel at the treatment centre stopped work on Saturday, demanding payment of two months' outstanding performance bonuses. Around 100 healthcare workers staged a protest outside the facility, saying the delay in payments had severely affected staff morale and threatened patient care. Protesters urged the government to resolve the issue immediately so they could return to treating patients as the outbreak continues to spread across eastern Congo.

The strike came shortly after Prime Minister Judith Suminwa visited Ituri Province to review the government's response to the health emergency. During visits to treatment centres in Rwampara and Mongbwalu, healthcare workers raised concerns over unpaid wages and incentives. Ebola response operations manager Dr Adelard Lufungula said the payment issue was being addressed through a mobile money system and expressed confidence that the backlog would be cleared within the next few days.

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The outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has been ongoing since May 15. According to the Ministry of Health, 766 patients remain in isolation or hospital care, while 540 people have recovered. Ituri Province accounts for nearly 90 per cent of all confirmed cases, making it the epicentre of the outbreak. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also reported that more than 100 healthcare workers have been infected since the crisis began.

Health authorities continue to face major challenges in containing the disease. Officials have yet to identify the outbreak's index case, while armed conflict, population displacement and illegal mining activities have made contact tracing increasingly difficult. The response has also been hindered by funding shortages, attacks on healthcare facilities and mistrust among local communities, all of which have slowed efforts to isolate cases and prevent further transmission.

Unlike the more common Zaire strain of Ebola, the Bundibugyo virus currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. However, clinical trials evaluating two potential therapies have recently begun in Ituri Province. The WHO has assessed the global risk of international spread as low, noting that Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person rather than through the air. Despite this assessment, health authorities continue to monitor the outbreak closely as they work to contain one of the country's most severe public health emergencies.

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