Ebola outbreak becomes Congo’s deadliest as UN warns virus is ‘winning’

• Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the deadliest on record, with 2,325 deaths and nearly 5,000 infections since May, spreading rapidly and doubling every 20 days.
• The UN warns Ebola is "winning" and calls for expanded response efforts, including more safe burials, treatment capacity, contact tracing, and experienced managers, backed by additional funding.
• The crisis strains Congo's fragile health system, infects many health workers, disrupts other health services, and causes fear that delays treatment for diseases like measles and cholera.

KINSHASA – Ebola deaths were recorded at a rate of one every 28 minutes in Democratic Republic of Congo last week, making the outbreak the country’s deadliest on record as authorities struggle to contain the rapidly spreading disease.

The death toll reached 2,325 after another 365 fatalities were recorded last week, surpassing the 2,299 deaths during Congo’s previous worst Ebola outbreak in 2018-2020.

Almost 5,000 confirmed infections have been reported since the current outbreak was declared in May, the National Institute of Public Health said on Aug 16. 

The epidemic is doubling about every 20 days, Tom Fletcher, the United Nations’ Under-Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said on Aug 14, and the response needs to expand substantially to regain ground.

Authorities and aid groups need to double the number of teams conducting safe burials, triple treatment capacity, improve contact tracing and deploy more experienced managers, according to Fletcher.

“Ebola is winning in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” he said. “We cannot let the virus outrun our response.”

Fletcher announced an additional US$30.5 million (S$38.96 million) from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund on Aug 14, on top of US$24 million already allocated to Congo and neighbouring countries.

The UN has deployed another 20 humanitarian staff to the outbreak’s epicentre, while the World Food Programme is expanding food assistance at Ebola treatment centres.

The pressure is spilling into ordinary hospitals and clinics.

Dedicated beds for suspected Ebola patients in North Kivu province were fully occupied by Aug 15, while suspected cases in Butembo, Masereka, Vuhovi and Kalunguta were being isolated in existing health facilities that weren’t designated transit centres, Congo’s public health institute said.

The virus poses particular risks for health workers.

Ebola had infected at least 155 of them and killed 45 by Aug 9, the World Health Organisation said in a report on Aug 14.

The infections highlight persistent weaknesses in infection prevention and control, particularly outside designated Ebola treatment centres, the agency said.

Ebola is hitting a health system already weakened by years of conflict and mass displacement, with recent cuts to humanitarian funding adding to the strain.

Hospitals and health centres in parts of North and South Kivu are operating with fewer staff, medicines and supplies, while some have suspended operations because of violence, Médecins Sans Frontières said. 

Measles, cholera, malaria and other health emergencies risk being neglected as resources are mobilized against Ebola, the aid group added last week.

Congo had recorded 108,643 suspected measles cases and 1,394 deaths through July 19, as well as 35,464 suspected cholera cases and more than 1,050 deaths, according to MSF.

Fear of Ebola is also deterring some people from seeking care, potentially delaying treatment for other illnesses, the group said.

“We are putting the world on notice that the Ebola crisis is real,” Fletcher said. “This is now everybody’s problem.” BLOOMBERG