Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo: The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo's ongoing outbreak has risen to 3,262, bringing it close to the country's largest-ever Ebola epidemic, according to the Ministry of Health.Official figures released overnight showed that 1,437 people have died from the disease since the outbreak was declared on 15th May, making it the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak recorded in the country.The current outbreak is concentrated in Ituri province in eastern Congo.The previous record outbreak, which affected Congo and neighbouring Uganda between 2018 and 2020, lasted nearly two years and resulted in more than 3,400 cases and over 2,200 deaths.Only the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa was larger, with approximately 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths.Concerns over rapid spreadHealth experts have expressed growing concern over the speed at which the virus is spreading.“The fact that, in just 10 weeks, we have reached nearly the same number of cases recorded over an almost two-year outbreak is alarming and should stop us in our tracks,” said Onesphore Bangenza, Mercy Corps response team lead in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province.“There is no doubt that the virus is moving faster than we can contain it,” he added.No approved vaccine or treatmentUnlike most previous Ebola outbreaks, the current epidemic is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments.Response efforts have also been hampered by ongoing rebel violence in eastern Congo, attacks on health workers and strikes by medical staff protesting unpaid wages.Health authorities continue to face major difficulties tracking infections and identifying chains of transmission.A particular challenge is that the outbreak's index case, or patient zero, has not yet been identified.The widespread displacement of communities due to armed conflict and illegal mining activities in the region has also complicated efforts to trace thousands of people who may have been exposed to the virus.Signs of improved community cooperationDespite early tensions between communities and health responders, officials say cooperation has improved in some of the worst-affected areas.In the mining town of Mongbwalu, one of the centres of the outbreak, residents previously attacked and burned Ebola treatment facilities amid distrust of response efforts.However, attitudes appear to be changing as the impact of the disease becomes more widely felt.“We can never again wage war against the Ebola teams. We have lost members of our families,” said Mongbwalu resident Fabrice Mumbesa.“As a community, we have a vested interest in fighting Ebola to return to normal life.”Health authorities and humanitarian organisations continue to expand response efforts, but experts warn that containing the outbreak will require improved security, stronger community engagement and greater access to remote and conflict-affected areas.
