DRC Ebola Outbreak: Death Toll Reaches 600 as Health Workers Strike Over Unpaid Wages

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is grappling with a deepening Ebola crisis as government data confirms that at least 600 people have succumbed to the disease. The total number of confirmed cases has climbed to 1,759, according to official figures released on Wednesday and reflecting data compiled through Tuesday.

The latest figures come amid a sharp uptick in infections, with 51 new cases and 20 deaths recorded in a single 24-hour period. The outbreak, centered in the country's eastern provinces, continues to test the capacity of local and international health response systems.

Virus Spreads to Major Urban Center

Authorities are investigating two suspected cases in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province and one of the DRC's largest cities. These cases have not yet been added to the official tally, as test results remain under validation. Once confirmed, they will be incorporated into the national case count.

One of the two suspected cases in Kisangani has been traced back to the village of Nia-Nia in Ituri province, where some of the earliest illnesses in the outbreak were documented. However, the second case appears to have no identifiable geographic link beyond the city itself, raising concerns about potential independent transmission chains.

The spread to Kisangani follows an earlier pattern in which the virus moved undetected for weeks through mining towns including Mongbwalu, Rwampara, and Bunia before reaching neighboring provinces. By the time the World Health Organization classified the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in May, transmission had already expanded beyond its initial epicenter.

Front-Line Health Workers Walk Off the Job

As the outbreak intensifies, healthcare workers in Ituri province — the hardest-hit of the three eastern regions affected — have begun walking off their jobs in protest over delayed compensation. Front-line workers issued an official notice to national and provincial authorities over the weekend, threatening to strike if they were not paid within 24 hours.

By Tuesday, some workers had already ceased operations, though no formal strike had been officially declared, according to reporting by The Associated Press. Several health professionals told the news agency that they had received no wages or bonuses since the outbreak was formally declared on May 15. They also cited inadequate protective equipment and what they described as unfair treatment by authorities and response teams.

Dr. Biensi Kano, a member of the epidemiological surveillance committee based in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, told the AP that demands for payment have been ongoing since the outbreak was first announced. The work stoppage adds further strain to an already overstretched response infrastructure.

Clinical Trials Begin Amid Ongoing Challenges

The labor dispute coincides with the launch of enrollment for clinical trials targeting the Bundibugyo virus, the strain responsible for the current outbreak. The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is generally considered less lethal than certain other variants, though no approved vaccine currently exists for it.

The combination of unpaid healthcare workers, limited medical supplies, and the virus's reach into densely populated urban areas underscores the complexity of containing the outbreak. With cases now potentially appearing in Kisangani and transmission continuing across multiple provinces, health authorities face mounting pressure to address both the medical and operational dimensions of the crisis simultaneously.

As the DRC confronts this multifaceted emergency, the interplay between disease spread, workforce morale, and clinical research will likely shape the trajectory of the response. Readers following this developing story are encouraged to share this article to help raise awareness about the ongoing Ebola crisis in central Africa.

Source: Al Jazeera English