More than 2,500 individuals have lost their lives in the Ebola crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the outbreak rapidly expanding across an area larger than France, as stated by senior United Nations Ebola coordinator Julien Harneis on Friday. Harneis, speaking from Bunia in northeastern Congo via video call, emphasized the urgent need for additional assistance, noting that the current funding reserve is expected to be depleted within weeks.
Local health workers have been facing hostility from residents who are fearful and upset about the outbreak, with some workers contracting and succumbing to the disease, Harneis reported. The escalating death toll coincides with the dispatch of a supply of a vaccine for a prior strain of Ebola to the D.R.C. The country requested these doses from the global Ebola vaccine stockpile last week.
The vaccine, known as Ervebo, is designed to safeguard against the more common Zaire Ebola virus strain. Out of the 70,000 doses allocated, 20,000 will be used in a late-stage trial to assess its effectiveness against the current Bundibugyo virus strain. The World Health Organization highlighted the importance of conducting clinical trials to determine if Ervebo can offer protection against the Bundibugyo virus in humans.
In late July, the D.R.C.’s 17th Ebola outbreak became its most severe in terms of case numbers, surpassing the previous record set between 2018 and 2020. This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments.
Harneis expressed grave concerns about the exponential growth of the Ebola crisis, stating that it is spreading rapidly across an area larger than France, surpassing the capacity of the response efforts. This unfolding crisis is unfolding in a region plagued by three decades of conflict, exacerbating the already enormous humanitarian needs in the area.
Health officials revealed that 160 healthcare workers have been infected with Ebola, with 43 fatalities among them. Harneis also highlighted the alarming trend of attacks on healthcare workers and facilities by youths, including incidents of ambulances being vandalized. He stressed that fear and misinformation have led to violent reactions from locals, hindering the efforts to contain the outbreak.
Conspiracy theories circulating among the population, suggesting that the outbreak is a hoax, have fueled tensions and aggression towards health workers. Additionally, aid organizations have faced challenges due to funding cuts in recent years, limiting their ability to respond effectively to the crisis.
The disruption of banking services, caused by the suspension of commercial flights, has further complicated the situation by impeding the flow of funds needed to support the extensive workforce engaged in combating the outbreak.