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Ebola cases surge as medical teams face shortages
Health workers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are battling a rising Ebola outbreak with limited protective gear and treatment units, as confirmed cases exceed 282 and suspected infections surpass 1,000.
Innovative treatment units deployed amid scarcity
Medical teams are using transparent isolation chambers called Cubes to treat patients without direct contact. Designed by the Alliance for International Medical Action (Alima) after the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, these units allow staff to administer care through built-in gloves.
Dr. Papys Lame, Alima's Ebola response coordinator, told the BBC the Cubes ensure "necessary standard of care, a positive patient experience and the protection of healthcare workers." However, only four units have reached Bunia, the outbreak's epicenter in Ituri province, with two more en route.
Protective gear shortages heighten risks
The International Council of Nurses (ICN) warned Friday that nurses in DR Congo lack sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), leaving them vulnerable to infection. Sixteen health workers have already contracted Ebola during this outbreak.
Dr. Armand Sprecher, an MSF epidemiologist, noted that PPE's heat and humidity make prolonged use difficult. "You've got about an hour before overheating sets in," he said, describing how sweat pools in boots and causes dizziness.
Diagnostic delays fuel spread
Early symptoms-fever, headache, and fatigue-mimic malaria and typhoid, complicating detection. Patients undergo two tests 48 hours apart; negative results lead to discharge or further care. Confirmed cases receive supportive treatment, including IV fluids and oxygen, as no approved drugs exist for the Bundibugyo strain driving this outbreak.
Sprecher highlighted the challenge of tracing transmission without clear infection chains. "We don't have the usual mapping of how the disease spreads," he said, unlike past outbreaks of the more common Zaire strain.
Conflict and distrust hinder response
Ongoing violence in Ituri and North/South Kivu provinces disrupts containment efforts. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited Ituri over the weekend, urging communities to collaborate with health authorities after attacks on treatment centers.
Strict burial rules-barring relatives from handling bodies-have sparked anger. Tedros called for a ceasefire, writing on X that "attacks on health facilities make tracking cases nearly impossible." Despite risks, Alima and MSF operate in rebel-held areas like Goma, where MSF has reopened an Ebola treatment center.
Psychological toll on frontline workers
Lame emphasized the emotional strain of losing patients and constant exposure to risk. "We are human," he said. "Naturally, we fear a disease with no treatment." Last week, five recovered health workers-four nurses and a lab technician-were discharged, offering a rare moment of relief.
