The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has now claimed over 2,500 lives, according to Julien Harneis, the senior UN Ebola coordinator. The outbreak is expanding exponentially across an area larger than France, with 160 healthcare workers having fallen ill and 43 dying.
Frontline health workers in the DRC are facing immense pressure, with some reporting they are not being paid. Sophie Mwadawa Kabundo, a nurse, and Martin Bolombi, a hygiene worker at the Elikya treatment centre in Bunia, both stated they are missing wages. Bolombi, who has worked since May, said he has only been paid for June and was among approximately 100 people who protested last month over unpaid bonuses.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates this outbreak is on track to surpass the 2014-16 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which recorded over 28,600 cases and 11,325 deaths. The current infections are of the rare Bundibugyo species, for which no approved treatments or vaccines exist, though trials are underway.
Unpaid wages are among several challenges, including misinformation, community mistrust, and infrastructure deficits, hindering efforts to control the outbreak. The UN Ebola coordinator warned that existing funds could run out within weeks and called for more aid.