DRC Ebola Outbreak Death Toll Exceeds 100; Armed Conflict Hinders Prevention Progress

(Central News Agency, Bunia, 8th — Combined Foreign Reports) The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced that at least 100 people have died less than a month after declaring an Ebola outbreak in the eastern part of the country. Since the outbreak was discovered several weeks after it began, local officials are intensifying efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

According to the Associated Press, the DRC released its latest epidemic report on the evening of the 8th, showing that as of the 7th, there were 101 deaths and 19 recoveries among 550 confirmed cases.

The outbreak is concentrated in the Ituri province in eastern DRC, which accounts for over 90% of all cases. Cases have also appeared in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and the outbreak has crossed the border into Uganda.

Reports indicate that the actual number of cases in the DRC is believed to be higher, as the outbreak was only confirmed several weeks after it began. Contact tracing coverage, while improving recently, currently stands at only 64%.

This latest Ebola outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain. Unlike the Zaire strain, there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments for the Bundibugyo strain. Most of the DRC's previous 16 Ebola outbreaks were caused by the Zaire strain.

Prevention measures implemented to curb the spread of the disease have disrupted the daily lives of residents in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province.

In some parts of the province, widespread skepticism persists, with residents ignoring prevention guidelines. Survivors of the DRC's second-largest Ebola outbreak in 2018 warned that repeating past mistakes could lead to avoidable mass deaths.

Healthcare workers on the front lines, facing meager wages and a lack of rest, have been repeatedly attacked by angry residents. Additionally, due to conflicts involving armed rebel groups, they are unable to access certain communities.

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated on the 8th that the conflict is "limiting access for prevention efforts, disrupting surveillance and response operations, and increasing the risk of undetected transmission." The WHO added, "Such incidents highlight the challenges of the local environment and the importance of working closely with local leaders and communities." (Edited by Li Jing / Supervised by Liu Shuqin) 1150609