A headteacher, a motorcycle taxi driver, and a travel agent are among those counting the human and economic cost of the Ebola virus in Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Justin Keno, principal of Nelson Mandela school, watches more than 400 pupils stream through the gate each morning, wondering which might be carrying Ebola. He has installed hand-washing basins and provided alcohol-based hand rub, but the virus moves in ways he cannot control. “Children come from everywhere, including neighbourhoods declared epicentres,” he said. “If one is infected, it could reach many children very fast.”
Outbreak Update
Nearly six years after the last Ebola outbreak in Ituri was declared over, residents of Bunia are reliving their fears. The health ministries of DRC and Uganda announced outbreaks on 15 May, but the virus is thought to have been circulating undetected for weeks before. The epidemic, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, has no vaccine or approved treatment. As of 10 June, 136 deaths from 676 confirmed cases have been reported in DRC, and two deaths from 19 cases in Uganda. The outbreak has spread to three new health zones in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
Economic Toll
Residents say the economic toll is biting. Sylvie Guilaine closed her used-clothes business due to fear of contamination. She now works as a bricklayer’s assistant, soaking her clothes in bleach before entering her house. Yves Buakya, a motorcycle taxi rider, has seen earnings plunge as passengers refuse to share bikes or prefer walking. Richard Ngongo, an airline travel agent, counts losses as flights are blocked and the high season for holiday travellers disappears. Georgette Kalume, a secondhand clothes shop owner, says her Jehovah’s Witness congregation has stopped door-to-door preaching and now uses WhatsApp.
Healthcare Challenges
Medics in eastern DRC struggle with shortages of basic protective equipment due to aid cuts, logistical challenges, and border closures. The International Rescue Committee warned that supplies could run out within days. Africa CDC reported that only a quarter of critical supplies needed for the next three months have arrived. Thirty-four healthcare workers have been infected, and seven have died.
Disinformation and Fear
Disinformation is rife, with some residents believing the outbreak is fake or a plot for funding. Dr. Yazid Yassine at Elikya hospital says patients arrive too late after visiting traditional healers. He has received death threats from those who lost family members. “When you see doctors dying, do you think they would accept to die for a lie?” asks Ngongo.
Despite the challenges, responders remain relentless. Dr. Yassine says, “A soldier does not fear the battlefield. Better to die there than at home.” At ISIG University, academic secretary Maki Mugeni Sagesse has prevented campus infections through chlorinated basins and awareness sessions. Dr. Charles Kachindi at CME Nyankunde hospital warns, “We are not yet on a plateau.”
