BUNIA, Congo (AP) — Authorities have reported at least 80 fatalities linked to the new Ebola outbreak in Ituri province, eastern Congo, as health workers hurried on Saturday to enhance screening and contact tracing efforts to manage the situation. The outbreak was first declared on Friday when 65 deaths and 246 suspected cases were noted.
Meanwhile, journalists from the Associated Press in Bunia, the provincial capital, spoke with residents who expressed their anxieties and the ongoing burials occurring frequently.
“Every day, fatalities occur… this has been the case for approximately a week. We are burying two, three, or even more individuals daily,” stated Jean Marc Asimwe, a Bunia resident. “At this moment, we are uncertain about the nature of this disease,” Asimwe added.
Congolese Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba announced late Friday that there were eight laboratory-confirmed cases, including four fatalities. Results confirmed the presence of the Bundibugyo virus, a strain that has not been as prevalent in previous Congo outbreaks. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in Congo since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976.
Ebola is highly transmissible and can be contracted through bodily fluids such as vomit, blood, or semen. The illness is uncommon but severe and frequently deadly.
Kamba mentioned that the suspected initial case in this outbreak was a nurse who passed away at a Bunia hospital, dating back to April 24, approximately three weeks prior. While he did not specify if the nurse’s samples were tested, he noted the individual exhibited Ebola-like symptoms.
The outbreak has crossed into neighboring Uganda
On Friday, Uganda reported an Ebola case that officials labeled as “imported” from Congo. The individual passed away at Kibuli Muslim Hospital in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, on May 14.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention expressed worries about the potential for further spread due to the closeness of affected regions to both Uganda and South Sudan. Uganda’s Health Ministry indicated that the body of the deceased patient was eventually returned to Congo, with no new local cases confirmed.
On Saturday, screenings were conducted at the entrance of Kibuli Muslim Hospital.
Ismail Kigongo, a Kampala resident, shared that the new outbreak reminded him of his father’s death during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I feel really scared because I remember burying my father without being able to see his body,” he stated.
Kenya, which neighbors Uganda, announced on Saturday that the risk of Ebola virus importation remains “moderate” due to regional travel. The Kenyan government has established an Ebola preparedness task force and has enhanced surveillance at all entry points.
Congo faces significant logistical hurdles
Although Congo has experience in managing Ebola outbreaks, it frequently encounters logistical hurdles in transporting expertise and resources to affected areas.
Being Africa’s second-largest country by land area, provinces within Congo are often distanced from one another and are largely affected by conflict. For example, Ituri is approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the capital, Kinshasa, and is plagued by violence from militants supported by the Islamic State.
So far, the disease has been confirmed in three health zones in Ituri province, including Bunia and the regions of Rwampara and Mongwalu, where the outbreak is primarily situated.
Only 13 blood samples have been analyzed at the National Institute of Biomedical Research; 8 returned positive for the Bundibugyo strain. The health minister noted that the remaining five samples could not be evaluated due to insufficient volume.
In Bunia, the principal city in Ituri, everyday activities and business appeared to carry on as usual on Friday.
Adeline Awekonimungu, a resident, expressed hope for a swift control of the outbreak. “I suggest that the government take this matter seriously and take control of the hospitals to manage this issue effectively,” she remarked.
SOURCE: PBS
