Ebola cases in Congo cross 8,000 as health worker shortage hampers response

The number of confirmed Ebola cases in Congo has crossed 8,000 as the country struggles with a shortage of health workers and other challenges in containing the outbreak.

Congo declared the outbreak on May 15 after cases of the rare Bundibugyo virus were detected. The virus has no known treatment or vaccine.

According to the latest data from Congo’s health ministry, 8,067 cases had been confirmed, and 3,901 people had died as of September 26. The cases have been recorded across 63 health zones in seven of the country’s 26 provinces, with a fatality rate of more than 48%.

The World Health Organization said the continued high fatality rate, particularly the number of deaths occurring in communities, reflected the severity of the outbreak and ongoing difficulties in detecting cases early and providing timely treatment.

The WHO said last week that Congo was running out of health workers to respond to the outbreak. Delayed or missing payments have led to strikes by health workers, further affecting containment efforts. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 50 health workers had died since the outbreak began.

Some areas, including Ituri and Haut-Uele provinces, have reported declining numbers of confirmed cases. However, the disease has continued spreading in other areas, expanding its geographical reach.

According to Africa CDC data, the current outbreak has spread faster than the 2014-2016 West Africa regional outbreak over the same period. By Week 19, the West Africa outbreak had recorded 3,781 cases, compared with 7,840 in the current outbreak.

The WHO said the current outbreak was on track to surpass the regional outbreak, which killed about 11,000 people.

Insecurity, population displacement, health workers’ strikes and intense population movements have complicated efforts to contain the disease.