Ebola outbreak in Congo: Cases pass 10,000 as spread outpaces past records

The Ebola outbreak in Congo has crossed 10,000 confirmed cases, government data showed Tuesday, with deaths approaching half of the total. Congo's Ministry of Health recorded 10,060 cases and nearly 50 percent mortality. The outbreak, declared in May, is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which has no approved vaccine or treatment. It is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record and the deadliest in Congo's history.

The outbreak has spread to 66 health zones across eight provinces, up from three zones when it was declared in May. Cases have been recorded in five countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and France; Uganda and France have no active cases. Response teams are working against armed conflict, poor roads and violence from residents. Health workers have faced attacks, including a nurse killed and another worker injured Saturday while responding to an alert in Bafwasende, Tshopo province.

Roughly 80 percent of recorded cases are emerging from outside monitored contacts, indicating chains of transmission health authorities have not identified. Africa CDC has said at least 95 percent of cases must come from known contacts before officials can call the outbreak largely under control. At least half of recorded deaths are among people never admitted to treatment centers. In the Ituri province epicenter, Sephora Bgosi of the Ebola burial team said, "Some people still don't seem to understand the seriousness of the situation even though they are directly exposed to the risk." She added, "Ebola disease is extremely dangerous and can be deadly."

Compared with the West Africa outbreak of 2014-2016, which had more than 28,000 cases and over 11,000 deaths, the current outbreak has produced at least three times the cases and deaths in the time since declaration. At least 2,600 patients in Congo have recovered. A video posted this week showed health workers in protective gear dancing as the last two patients left a treatment center in Mongbwalu, Ituri province. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said of the video, "The outbreak is far from over, but every life saved is worth celebrating."

African health ministers meet virtually Wednesday to coordinate a continental response. Africa CDC head Dr. Jean Kaseya said, "Ebola is crossing borders. Our response must move faster, with stronger coordination, greater solidarity and decisive political leadership." Responders have reported treatment centers overwhelmed in some zones, residents skeptical and violent toward them, and health workers striking over delayed or unpaid wages. Last week at the Nia Nia health zone in Ituri province, surveillance and community engagement officers walked off the job over bonuses unpaid since late August.

The outbreak has disrupted Congo's health services, including childhood vaccinations, and diverted attention from other disease outbreaks such as cholera. Maternal mortality doubled in some provinces soon after the outbreak was declared as pregnant women avoided hospitals over fear of infection and isolation. Schooling has been interrupted for children in areas where millions are already out of school.