Ebola hits Congo hard: 1,000 infected and a baby dies in a displaced persons camp

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

The Ebola virus crisis continues to worsen in the Republic Congo Democracy, after the number of infected exceeded the thousand mark, in a rapidly spreading outbreak that extended to a third camp for displaced people, amid growing fears that the situation could turn into a large-scale health crisis in the region.

Congolese authorities announced on Sunday evening that the number of confirmed deaths had risen to 254, more than a month after the outbreak of the rare “Bundibugyo” strain of the virus was detected, according to official reports.

Health organizations are very concerned

The spread of the infection within the displaced persons camps has raised serious concerns among health organizations, particularly after the death of an 18-month-old baby girl in the Hongbei camp, following her infection with the virus. Health documents showed that the child was tested on June 14, and died one day after receiving the positive result.

According to the report, the child suffered from a fever for more than a week and was transported on foot between two different health centers, where she received antibiotic treatment before being diagnosed with Ebola. Epidemiological investigations also revealed that she had been in contact with at least 107 people, including family members, healthcare workers, and residents of other camps.

Severe shortage of isolation centers for those infected

Health officials have warned of a severe shortage of isolation centers for those infected, increasing the risk of transmission within local communities and overcrowded displacement camps.

Dr. Emmanuel Musengusi Polimo, the health official in the Nizi region, said that authorities are facing major challenges in containing the disease, adding: “We need to isolate patients from the community to limit the spread of infection, but we lack suitable places to receive them.”.

Two confirmed cases were also recorded inside the “Kabangba” camp for displaced people, while at least 30 people died in another displacement site in the city of Bunia, according to official data.

Children account for 20% of the total injuries

Initial estimates from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) indicate that children represent approximately 201,000 confirmed cases to date, which doubles down on concerns about the most vulnerable groups.

With the disease spreading rapidly across three provinces in eastern Congo, health experts in Africa have issued warnings that the crisis could develop into one of the deadliest Ebola outbreaks in recent years, with increasing comparisons to the 2014-2016 West African outbreak that killed more than 11,000 people.

Meanwhile, a limited number of infections have been detected in neighboring Uganda, while regional health authorities continue to monitor the situation to prevent cross-border transmission.