The Ebola epidemic raging in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is causing increasing concern, as health authorities report dozens of suspected cases and emergency burials continue in the affected areas.
In Rwampara, health workers in protective suits bury the victims as the virus continues to spread to neighboring provinces. According to public health figures, the outbreak has already caused approximately 160 deaths out of nearly 670 suspected cases.
In Bunia, authorities have strengthened screening measures at checkpoints and transport hubs in an attempt to contain the spread.
At each checkpoint, at each point of entry, there is a temperature check and systematic hand washing. This means that any passenger who arrives with symptoms of Ebola must not board the plane; we will not let them leave, because these are people who could spread the disease elsewhere,” explains Aimé Prospère, head of a checkpoint in Bunia.
“We are really worried because this is not the first time Ebola has hit our city. When there is an Ebola outbreak, we suffer a lot, we don’t have time to breathe, we don’t have time to sleep, because we have to think about how we are going to break the chain of transmission. And this outbreak suddenly hit the city; we didn’t know it was going to reach the city, and since the 15th, we haven’t slept, we are on high alert,” adds the control officer.
The World Health Organization has declared an international emergency, while efforts to combat the epidemic are complicated by insecurity and limited access to affected areas.
Healthcare professionals say they are under increasing pressure as the epidemic intensifies and disrupts daily life.
Authorities warn that transmission chains remain active, while the lack of a vaccine against this strain of Ebola complicates containment efforts.
