The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) health ministry reported on Thursday that the death toll from the current Ebola outbreak has reached 1,033. Since the epidemic was declared on May 15, health officials have recorded 2,536 cases of the virus. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, the disease is spreading faster than in previous outbreaks, reaching 2,000 cases in two months compared to ten months during the 2018-2019 epidemic.
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa traveled to the eastern region on Thursday to assess the situation alongside representatives from the United States and the United Nations. Aid organizations, including CARE International and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), reported that local hospitals are at capacity. MSF stated that some patients are remaining in their homes while awaiting available beds in treatment centers.
Health officials cited several challenges in containing the virus, including active armed conflict in Ituri province and the high mobility of workers in the artisanal gold mining sector. Additionally, the WHO reported a $400 million funding shortfall for its $518 million response plan. In Ituri, some health workers conducted a strike this month to protest unpaid wages and working conditions.
The virus has recently expanded geographically from Ituri into the provinces of Tshopo and Haut-Uele. Officials confirmed four deaths in Kisangani, a trade hub with a population of over 1 million people. Health responders stated that the geographic expansion and lack of resources have complicated contact tracing and containment efforts.