Ebola outbreak in DRC exceeds 6,000 cases as response hampered by violence and funding gaps

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to escalate, with confirmed infections now topping 6,000 and the death toll reaching 2,911, according to government figures.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, has spread to around 60 zones in six provinces, raising fears that the virus is outpacing efforts to contain it.

"Around 60 health zones are now affected, every week more are added to the list. And the same pattern is repeated everywhere: initially, there is resistance and denial, followed by gradual acceptance," DW correspondent Jonas Gerding reported from Bunia, the capital of the Ituri province, the epicenter of the latest Ebola outbreak in Congo.

"Unfortunately, a lot more people will die until this Ebola outbreak gets under control," he added.

Health experts have said the situation is particularly worrying in eastern Congo, where conflict and insecurity are making it harder for response teams to reach affected communities.

"This outbreak is the fastest-growing Ebola epidemic on record. It is growing faster and wider than the response to contain it, but it can be stopped," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told journalists last week.

The United Nations has appealed for more funding as humanitarian agencies struggle to keep pace with the increasing number of cases.

"International attention, political focus and resources are still lagging behind the reality unfolding on the ground," Guterres said, warning that the world "must also overcome another virus — the virus of indifference."

Vaccination campaign gathers momentum

As researchers continue trials aimed at developing a licensed vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain, Congolese authorities have rolled out a vaccination campaign focused on front-line health workers.

The vaccine was originally developed for a different Ebola variant, but officials hope it will provide some protection against the current outbreak.

Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said more than 50,000 doses had already arrived in the country.

"We will cover all the provinces that are around Ituri, moving in a ring towards the center of the outbreak, that is to say towards Ituri. But we have enough doses for all healthcare providers," he said on August 28.

Some health workers remain confident despite uncertainty over how effective the vaccine will be against the Bundibugyo strain.

"It is a vaccine that has already proven itself. We are talking about Ebola Bundibugyo, of Ugandan origin. But the vaccine that they want to administer to us was the vaccine that had succeeded for the Zaire type," said health worker Arnaud Batumbu.

"Since both cases involve a viral disease, I hope the vaccine will work for us now as well," he added.

Communities seek protection

Residents in hard-hit areas say they are ready to take the vaccine if it is properly explained to them.

"I will be ready to get vaccinated if only someone explains to me the importance of this vaccination," Clemency, a student in Tshopo province, told DW.

Others are calling for wider access. "Children need to be vaccinated too. They go back to school; there are many of them in class," said local resident Carine Lobwadji

Some community members also fear vaccine supplies may not be enough.

"I have learned that this is an insufficient quantity. I ask the authorities to add other doses for Tshopo and that we vaccinate everyone, especially those who will voluntarily agree, since some are afraid," said Onyeka Treasure, a photographer.

Violence hampers response

The latest outbreak is unfolding against a backdrop of violence and mass displacement in eastern DRC, complicating efforts to stop transmission.

Ebola response teams have reported attacks while carrying out their work, including during operations to safely handle Ebola-related deaths.

"We demand greater security so we can operate in the field and do our work without endangering our lives," Floribert Magene, a member of an Ebola response team, told The Associated Press on Monday after an attack in Ituri province.

Magene said his team was assaulted near Mambasa while responding to a call to secure a body.

Economic toll grows

Beyond the health emergency, the outbreak is worsening economic hardship for many families.

Schools have reopened in towns such as Bukavu and Bunia, but many parents are struggling to afford basic school supplies.

Stationery shop owner Furaha Mpangu Esperance told DW that demand has collapsed as families prioritize food and other essentials.

"In any case, it doesn't work. The situation is serious because there are no customers. We have even lowered the prices but there is no one to buy. Before, we even sold 10 boxes, 20 boxes a day. Today not even three boxes, not even two! The situation is critical," he said.

To reduce disruption to education, the government has proposed radio-based learning for children unable to attend school.

"For us, it's a double objective: to ensure that children continue to go to school, despite the epidemic, and to ensure that distance learning is the device that will help them," Education Minister Raissa Malu told DW.

Teachers, however, say many areas lack the infrastructure needed for effective distance learning.

"We, the teachers, are ready, but we don't have the tools. In sensitive areas, even picking up frequencies is quite a problem," said Patrick Girinegi, president of the Ituri teachers' inter-union alliance. "The first-grade children can't read, nor do the parents. Several schools don't have printers or computers. How will it go?"

Many students and parents would rather see classrooms remain open with stronger health measures in place.

"It's easy for me to understand when it's my teacher himself who explains it to me. Saying that the child stays at home to listen to the radio, I don't think it's going to work. We [must] find ways to go to school without contaminating ourselves," said Viviane Tshipamba, vice-president of the Ituri children's committee.

Despite the challenges, health authorities point to a positive sign: more than 1,360 people have recovered from Ebola so far. For many Congolese, those recoveries offer hope that with stronger support, increased vaccination rates and improved security, the outbreak can still be brought under control.

Marcus Loika, Gaston Mukendi and Mitima Delachance contributed to this article.