Congo-Kinshasa: DR Congo - New Centre Opens At Heart of Record Ebola Outbreak

Lead

The Democratic Republic of the Congo's largest Ebola outbreak on record continues to intensify, with a new UN-backed treatment centre set to open this week in the country's east. The development comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) warns of the need for a substantial scaling up of response activities to combat what it describes as a fast-moving epidemic.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from AllAfrica, which drew on UN sources including the WHO and the UN aid coordination agency OCHA, indicate that as of 30 July, the outbreak, first declared in mid-May, has resulted in 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths. The WHO said the current outbreak is the largest recorded Ebola virus disease outbreak in the country, surpassing the 2018-2020 outbreak, which resulted in 3,317 confirmed cases.

The outbreak has not been confined to one region. Over the last two months, it has expanded to five additional provinces and is now affecting 49 health zones, with the disease remaining active in 33 of them. Ituri province is the most impacted, accounting for 88 per cent of all confirmed cases and 82.6 per cent of reported deaths nationwide.

The recent week's data showed the highest weekly number of reported cases (567) and deaths (296) to date, underscoring what the WHO described as the exceptional pace of transmission.

The situation on the ground is complicated by insecurity and community mistrust. In a separate set of reports, AllAfrica detailed the deployment of a mobile peacekeeping base by the UN mission in DR Congo (MONUSCO) near the town of Nyakunde in Ituri Province on 16 July. This deployment came one day after a group of young people vandalised the local Ebola Treatment Centre, an incident that followed the killing of local militia leader Kakani Tondabo, which led to clashes and the deaths of five others.

At least a dozen facilities have been attacked, largely due to fear, misinformation, and deep community mistrust of outside authorities, according to the reports. The conflict between DR Congo's armed forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group is ongoing in the country's east, adding to the challenges faced by health workers.

Key Claims

• As of 30 July, there were 3,605 confirmed Ebola cases and 1,587 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, according to the WHO.
• The outbreak has expanded to five additional provinces and is affecting 49 health zones, with Ituri province accounting for 88 per cent of confirmed cases and 82.6 per cent of reported deaths.
• The WHO has warned that a substantial scaling up of response activities is needed.
• A new UN-backed treatment centre with a 100-bed capacity is set to open this week, as reported by OCHA.
• In Ituri, MONUSCO deployed a mobile peacekeeping base near the town of Nyakunde on 16 July, following an attack on the local Ebola Treatment Centre.
• At least a dozen facilities have been attacked, largely due to fear, misinformation, and deep community mistrust of outside authorities.
• National health authorities have reported more than 2,500 cases and more than 1,000 deaths, according to a separate account; this figure is lower than the more recent WHO tally of 3,605 cases and 1,587 deaths, reflecting the fast-moving nature of the outbreak.

Perspectives

WHO and UN agencies

The WHO and UN agencies, including OCHA and the World Food Programme (WFP), emphasise the severity of the outbreak and the need for urgent, scaled-up response. WFP acting chief Carl Skau said, "Ebola is moving fast, hitting people already facing conflict and hunger. Communities are key to ending it, but need support."

MONUSCO

The UN peacekeeping mission highlights its role in restoring security and protecting medical facilities. Major Atiqur, commander of the mobile base, said, "People quickly understood that we had come to help restore security and protect the Ebola Treatment Centre. Today, we receive a warm welcome wherever we go."

Local health authorities

Local health officials, such as Dr. Charles Kashindi, medical director of Nyakunde General Referral Hospital, report that community awareness campaigns are starting to decrease cases. They are also calling for a permanent MONUSCO presence to ensure patient safety during treatment.