Ebola responders strike in DR Congo as treatment centres reach saturation point

Health workers in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have launched industrial action this week, protesting against unpaid benefits and deteriorating working conditions. The walkout, which began in Bunia and Rwampara, coincides with a critical phase in the response to an epidemic that has now infected more than 1,700 people and claimed at least 600 lives.

 

​The affected health zones in Ituri province have reported a combined 847 confirmed infections, representing almost half of the national total. The National Institute of Public Health warned in a report on Tuesday that the “continuity of essential services” has been compromised, heightening risks of mortality from causes unrelated to Ebola.

​Facilities reach breaking point
​The strike emerged as treatment centres reached what the World Health Organisation (WHO) described as a “saturation point”. Facilities admitted 118 patients on Tuesday, more than double the average daily admissions recorded throughout June. WHO representative in Congo, Anne Ancia, stated she could not yet confirm the outbreak was stabilising, despite witnessing the dedication of staff serving under immense pressure.

 

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​Local health workers met with the military governor and public health officials on Sunday to address grievances regarding overdue bonuses and the strain of working in remote, volatile regions. Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya stated that payment issues were largely technical and were being resolved; on Wednesday, he indicated his belief that the strike had ended.

​Escalating regional risks
​Meanwhile, health officials are investigating two suspected Ebola cases in the major urban centre of Kisangani, where preliminary PCR tests returned positive results. This has sparked concerns that the virus may have breached the borders of officially affected provinces. Furthermore, Ebola has spread to Boga in southern Ituri, with over 12,400 contacts now under daily observation across 37 health zones.

​The broader health system remains under immense strain. Aid groups are struggling to maintain routine childhood vaccinations, nutrition services, and antenatal care, as patients avoid clinics due to fear of infection. Direct Relief is shipping over 170 pallets of intravenous fluids to the region to combat severe dehydration, a leading cause of death among Ebola patients, while security concerns persist following a criminal arson attack on a treatment centre in Kitatumba.