The fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record is spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with health officials struggling to contain the virus amid ongoing conflict and funding shortages.
Key facts
- •The 2013-16 Ebola outbreak, previously the worst on record, took eight months to reach 1,000 deaths.
- •The Bundibugyo virus, which causes the current outbreak, has symptoms that can mimic the flu.
- •M23 rebels operate parallel governments in the cities of Goma and Bukavu.
- •Seven American aid workers from Samaritan’s Purse are isolating in a quarantine center in Kenya.
- •The WHO requires $115 million to address the epidemic in Congo.
The Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is the fastest-growing ever recorded, with the World Health Organization reporting that the epidemic is outpacing response efforts. Since the outbreak began in May, the government has confirmed 2,473 cases and over 1,000 deaths. Health officials believe the actual number of cases could be four times higher.
By the numbers
Challenges in Containment
The outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which no specific treatments or vaccines are currently approved. More than 80 percent of new cases are occurring outside known transmission chains, and approximately two-thirds of deaths are happening in communities rather than health facilities, complicating efforts to enforce safe burials. Additionally, healthcare workers in some regions have been on strike due to unpaid wages and poor working conditions.
Impact of Regional Conflict
Approximately 90 percent of known cases are located in the Ituri province, an area affected by conflict between the Congolese government and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). In the North and South Kivu provinces, the public health response is split between the federal government and the M23 rebel group. M23 has declared the outbreak over in its controlled territories following a 21-day lockdown, though international analysts have questioned the adequacy of this assessment.
Funding and International Support
The WHO has reported receiving less than half of the $115 million required to address the epidemic. While the European Union has pledged approximately $572 million for Africa’s Ebola response and the U.S. has provided over $220 million, international efforts face criticism regarding travel bans and the withdrawal of U.S. support from the WHO.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Foreign Policy.
