The risk of Ebola in DR Congo has exceeded 500 | Health Issues

The 17th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is fueled by the Bundibugyo virus, with no vaccine or approved methods.

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has risen to more than 500, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), as health workers threaten to go on strike over low pay and poor work conditions.

Data released on Monday, according to reports from the Congolese health authorities, showed that at least 506 deaths and 1,561 confirmed cases of Ebola have been recorded in the country, according to the WHO report of July 4. In neighboring Uganda, the number remained at two deaths and 20 confirmed cases.

Ebola, which spreads through body fluids and causes haemorrhagic fever, has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years. The deadly epidemic in DR Congo killed nearly 2,300 of the 3,500 cases recorded between 2018 and 2020.

The 17th epidemic in DR Congo, officially declared on May 15, is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no vaccine or treatment.

A clinical trial involving two treatments for the rare disease began on Thursday, according to the WHO, which also granted emergency use approval for the virus’s first trial.

Officials have yet to identify zero cases and still need to trace thousands of people who may have come into contact with the virus.

The first month of the Ebola outbreak was already the worst on record, the WHO said.

In the mining town of Mongbwalu in Ituri region, considering the beginning of the epidemic, the death rate of 50.7 percent shows that there are problems in early management and access to patients.

Threatening to be beaten

The crisis in the region is intensifying as frontline health workers are threatening to go on strike on Monday over unpaid wages and poor performance.

In a statement to the government, which was seen by the AP news agency, hospital and non-hospital workers said they have not been paid benefits since the outbreak began and do not have enough for their work.

They also complained about the poor wages, the “arrogance” of the teams sent from the capital of the DR Congo in Kinshasa, and the “abundance” of workers from other areas without prioritizing local work in Ituri, as well as the lack of adequate equipment.

The virus is also found in the neighboring provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, where major cities and large areas are controlled by the anti-government militia M23.

In North Kivu, the death rate of 57.4 percent, much higher than average, is considered “alarming” by Congolese health officials.

In the province of South Kivu, no cases have been confirmed since May 26.

Health officials in the M23 region announced last week that the outbreak has been eradicated in the controlled areas.