Dakar: The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is continuing to grow at a worrying pace, with the virus now reaching a sixth province and putting further pressure on health workers who are already struggling to keep up with the number of infections.
The latest figures show that more than 4,700 confirmed Ebola cases and more than 2,200 deaths have been recorded in the country. The outbreak has now affected 55 health zones across six provinces, with Ituri remaining the main centre of the epidemic.
The expansion into Bas Uele province has raised fresh concerns because it shows that the virus is continuing to move through communities. A person who had travelled from neighbouring Haut Uele province to Buta, the capital of Bas Uele, died after becoming infected. Health authorities are now working to identify people who may have had contact with the patient and determine whether further infections have occurred.
The current outbreak was officially declared in May, but health officials believe the virus had already been spreading for some time before it was detected. This delay has made the task of controlling the disease much more difficult.
One of the biggest challenges facing the response is contact tracing. Health workers normally identify people who have been in close contact with an Ebola patient and monitor them for symptoms. This allows new infections to be detected quickly and helps prevent the virus from spreading further.
But in Congo, a large proportion of new cases are being discovered among people who were not previously known to health teams. Between 60 and 70 percent of newly detected infections have been found outside monitored contact lists in some areas. This means that health workers are often finding patients after transmission has already occurred rather than before it happens.
The situation is particularly difficult in Ituri, where most of the country's cases have been recorded. Many communities are located in remote areas, while armed conflict and insecurity make it dangerous for health workers to travel. Population displacement also makes tracking people much harder because families can move from one area to another in search of safety, work or food.
Health workers themselves are facing difficult conditions. Some have worked for months without receiving their salaries, while shortages of staff and protective equipment have added to the pressure. Treatment centres have also faced disruptions, while some health workers have gone on strike over unpaid wages and poor working conditions.
Community trust has become another important part of the response. Fear and misinformation about Ebola can cause people to avoid treatment or refuse to cooperate with health teams. Safe burial procedures are particularly sensitive because the virus can spread through contact with the bodies of people who have died from the disease.
The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola. Unlike the more common Zaire species, there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo Ebola. Researchers and health authorities are studying possible vaccines and treatments, but controlling the outbreak currently depends heavily on early detection, isolation, supportive medical care, contact tracing and cooperation from communities.
The speed of the outbreak has alarmed health authorities. Congo passed 1,000 confirmed cases much faster than during its major Ebola outbreak that began in 2018. The current outbreak has now become the second largest Ebola outbreak recorded worldwide, based on confirmed infections, and it has already exceeded the number of cases recorded during Congo's 2018 to 2020 outbreak.
There are also concerns about the possibility of further international spread. The outbreak previously reached Uganda, where cases were linked to people travelling from affected areas of Congo. Uganda has since brought its outbreak under control, but health authorities remain alert because of continued movement across the border.
The immediate challenge for Congo is to stop the virus from creating new transmission chains in areas that have not previously experienced the outbreak. The discovery of Ebola in Bas Uele makes that task even more urgent.
Health authorities are increasing surveillance, testing and contact tracing while working with international partners to strengthen the response. More resources are also needed to support health workers and ensure that treatment centres can continue operating.
For the people working on the front lines, however, the response remains a daily struggle. Community health workers continue travelling from house to house, searching for people who may have been exposed and encouraging sick people to seek care.
The message from health experts is increasingly clear. The outbreak cannot be controlled by hospitals alone. Finding cases early, following every possible contact, protecting health workers and gaining the trust of local communities will be essential.
With the virus now present in six provinces and thousands of people already dead, Congo is facing a critical moment in its fight against Ebola. The coming weeks will be important in determining whether the country can slow the rapid spread of the disease or whether the outbreak will continue expanding into new communities.