Ebola death toll in DR Congo passes 500 as health workers threaten strike

Overview

The 17th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed 506 people out of 1,561 confirmed cases, according to a government bulletin with data up to 4 July. The Bundibugyo virus strain, for which no approved vaccine or treatment exists, was officially declared on 15 May in Ituri province. The World Health Organization classified the epidemic as a public health emergency of international concern on 17 May.

Spread and response

The outbreak has since spread to North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, where armed groups control large areas. In the mining town of Mongbwalu, the lethality rate is 50.7 percent, while in North Kivu it reaches 57.4 percent, well above the national average of 32.4 percent.

Uganda has recorded 20 cases and two deaths, with 15 infections imported from DR Congo. A French doctor who contracted the virus during a humanitarian mission was discharged from a Paris hospital after recovery; a US doctor treated at Berlin's Charité hospital was released in early June. The Congolese government said the response is consolidating thanks to logistical reinforcement and community engagement.

The response is consolidating thanks to logistical reinforcement and the commitment of communities.

Health workers threaten strike

Frontline health workers in Ituri issued a 24-hour strike notice on Sunday, demanding unpaid benefits and better working conditions. In a notice seen by the Associated Press, they cited poor salaries, the "arrogance" of teams sent from Kinshasa, and excessive reliance on outside labour without prioritising local workers.

We have not been paid benefits since the outbreak began and we do not have adequate supplies for our work.

Any walkout could disrupt tracing of tens of thousands of contacts and clinical care for 628 patients currently in isolation or hospitalisation. Officials have yet to identify patient zero.

Clinical trials and diagnostics

With no specific therapy available, the WHO granted emergency use authorisation for the first molecular diagnostic test for the Bundibugyo virus. A clinical trial of two antiviral treatments began on Thursday, 2 July. The first month of this outbreak was already the worst on record, the WHO said.

Third worst Ebola epidemic

The current outbreak is already the third deadliest Ebola epidemic on record, behind only the 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic (11,000 deaths, 28,000 cases) and the 2018–2020 eastern DR Congo outbreak (2,299 deaths, 3,481 cases). The WHO estimates the virus began circulating in Ituri about two months before the official declaration.