Back in 2014, the global health community was slow to respond to a rapidly spreading and evolving Ebola outbreak. In the years since, fingers have been pointed every which way, with the World Health Organization, local governments, and international aid agencies all coming under fire. Ultimately, more than 10,000 people died with Ebola cases occurring in the United States and Europe.
Unsurprisingly, when another Ebola outbreak emerged this year in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the global health community was much quicker to respond. However, despite a more concerted effort by health experts, the Ebola outbreak in the Congo continues to worsen. This time around, armed conflict and general instability are making it more difficult to provide aid.
The DRC has suffered through years of civil war, which has left civil society and the government apparatus severely weakened. Add in the fact that as many as a million displaced refugees are believed to reside in and/or are traveling through the infection hot-zone, there is a high risk that the disease could spread quickly.
The World Health Organization has also blamed “non-engagement” from local communities and governments. Already, over 540 suspected cases of Ebola have occurred, with 319 people having died. The high mortality rate comes even as health authorities are using anti-viral drugs and vaccines to combat the disease.
The disease continues to spread. While the epidemic is centered primarily in North Kivu, cases have been recorded in the nearby Ituri province as well. Worse yet, Ebola is making the jump from rural villages to crowded urban centers. Cases are now being recorded in Butembo, an urban area which is home to about a million people.
The DRC has suffered at least 10 Ebola outbreaks since 1976. Still, most of these outbreaks have been isolated to small, rural villages and authorities were able to quickly contain the disease. Increased travel, migration, and urbanization, however, are enabling the disease to spread more quickly.
Scarier still, the disease may spread into South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, and other nearby countries. This will make it even more difficult to coordinate a cohesive response and could strain relations between affected countries.
