Ebola Spreads to Sixth Congo Province After Death

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has now affected a sixth province, Bas-Uele, after a death was confirmed there. This individual had traveled from Haut-Uele province to Bas-Uele, where the fatality occurred.

This current outbreak is considered the fastest-growing in history. It is progressing at a rate nearly three times faster than the devastating 2014-16 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which claimed over 11,000 lives. The virus responsible, Bundibugyo, currently has no approved vaccines or treatments.

Challenges plague the response efforts, including strikes by unpaid health workers and threats from rebel groups. Misinformation also hinders progress, with some denying the reality of Ebola. As of Thursday, six of Congo's 26 provinces have reported cases.

In Ituri province, a major hotspot, health workers at the Nizi Treatment Center initiated a strike due to three months of unpaid salaries, leading to the center's temporary closure. The World Health Organization now indicates the outbreak began in February, months before its May 15 declaration, with alarming spread rates seen outside contact tracing.