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The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is battling a new Ebola outbreak just five months after it declared its previous outbreak over.
The Bundibugyo strain, a type of Ebola virus first identified in neighboring Uganda, is highly lethal and is spreading rapidly in northeastern Ituri, including the health areas of Rwampara, Mongwalu and Bunia. Two cases have been confirmed in Uganda.
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In the absence of specific treatment, prevention, early detection and isolation of cases is essential.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a “global health emergency” after more than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths.
“People die here every day,” a health official in Rwampara who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media told Al Jazeera.
Rwampara, the source of the outbreak, has recorded five deaths every day for the past three days, according to the official.
“Some are in the community and others in hospitals. The most important thing here is to establish a treatment center for Ebola,” he added.
In Bunia, the capital of Ituri district, the city is filled with fear and uncertainty
“We are shocked that Ebola is back in the midst of a humanitarian and security crisis. If it is not contained, our daily lives will be greatly affected,” Constant Ulimwengu, 40, a father of five, told Al Jazeera.
Sherif Musa, a 29-year-old resident of Bunia, recalled attending several funerals in April of people who had died showing cholera-like symptoms. “Perhaps these unusual deaths are linked to Ebola. I doubt there would be a major epidemic if this were confirmed,” he said.
Congo’s Ministry of Health has confirmed that a person believed to be a nurse of unknown age died at Bunia Evangelical Medical Center on April 27.
“The nurse had symptoms of Ebola,” the ministry said on Friday.
The media in the district said that after the death of the nurse, the funeral continued as usual with people holding the body which was not buried to prevent the spread of Ebola. Experts have warned that the practice of unsafe burials could accelerate the spread of Ebola in the affected areas.
Population density
Elie Badjo, a health researcher in the DRC, fears that public mistrust could hamper fundraising efforts. “Already through our early warning platform, people are leaving comments indicating that they are major authorities who want to use this opportunity to do their research or that there is an imminent threat as we are in a time of war in the east,” he told Al Jazeera.
Local authorities are pushing to educate people about the disease and use preventive measures. Residents are encouraged to follow strict hygiene rules, including frequent hand washing, avoiding contact with people with symptoms, not eating wild game and avoiding dead animals.
“We are used to seeing epidemics like cholera, typhoid and malaria here,” said Musa. “It is difficult for us to know what is Ebola and what is not.
The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) emphasizes the need for rapid and coordinated regional action.
“In the case of any epidemic, especially if it is hemorrhagic fever, we must isolate all suspected cases, identify people who may have been in direct or indirect contact with patients, and encourage border control,” Dr. Jean Kaseya, head of Africa CDC, told Al Jazeera in a webinar.
The risk of an epidemic will be greater than what I saw in 1976 in Kikwit
It has been said that the plague in Ituri is very difficult. The district is densely populated and has been affected by the violence that the armed forces control in parts of its territory. Mining areas, trading centers and the constant movement of people increase the risk of rapid spread of disease.
“This outbreak is happening in one of the most populated regions of the DRC, where people travel a lot,” Congolese professor and epidemiologist Jean-Jacques Tamfum Muyembe, who discovered Ebola 50 years ago, told Al Jazeera.
“For example, Mongwalu is a mining area that attracts a lot of people. Military groups are also in control of the area. The risk of the spread of this epidemic will be greater than what I saw in 1976 in Kikwit.”
Ulimwengu added: “We are already living in a humanitarian crisis.
From 2018 to 2020, the DRC experienced its 10th Ebola outbreak in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, which killed nearly 2,300 people. Lessons from the epidemic showed the dangers of delayed responses, inadequate medical care and distrust of the public. Experts warned that the new outbreak could strain an already fragile health care system.
A quick response is needed
Unsafe burials, delays in reporting, and lack of medical care appear to contribute to the spread of the disease. Efforts such as coordinating community outreach, increasing testing and treatment, and protecting health workers are seen as priorities.
In addition to health problems, the region is facing economic and financial problems. Movement of people, mining activities and local commercial activities make managing and maintaining resources difficult. Armed groups also make people less vulnerable by preventing them from moving to other areas.
Dr Jean Kaseya of the African CDC said isolation, contact tracing and strengthening border controls are essential to contain the outbreak. Regional cooperation is essential, and urgent action can prevent the spread to neighboring regions and countries.
As the DRC faces yet another Ebola outbreak, urgent measures are needed to prevent a repeat of past outbreaks. Public participation, awareness campaigns and health capacity building are essential. Failure to act quickly could lead to a major public health disaster in one of Africa’s most vulnerable regions.
Sarah Ihora, 38, a mother of three, fled North Kivu to live in Bunia. He recalled the restrictions that were put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now urging his citizens to cooperate in the response to Ebola.
“Today, Ebola is spreading, and many people here in Bunia are talking about it. People must obey all the instructions given by the authorities to reduce its spread,” he told Al Jazeera.
