DR Congo's Ebola outbreak crosses 4,000 cases; Africa CDC, WHO urge action

Outbreak crosses grim milestone

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has now surpassed 4,000 confirmed and probable cases, according to latest health ministry data. The figure marks a somber milestone in a crisis that has stretched for months across several provinces.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have jointly called for urgent, community-led action to contain the virus. Both agencies warn that without stronger grassroots engagement, the outbreak could continue to spread into new areas.

Children bearing the heaviest toll

UNICEF said on Thursday that more than 300 children have died from Ebola in the current outbreak. The agency warned that the epidemic is also disrupting essential health services, including routine immunisation, maternal care, and treatment for malaria and other common illnesses.

In affected zones, many health facilities have been forced to scale back operations as resources are diverted to Ebola response. This has created a secondary crisis, with preventable diseases now claiming lives alongside the virus.

Health workers on the brink

Compounding the challenge, health workers involved in the Ebola response are threatening to abandon their posts. Reports indicate that many have not been paid for months, while continuing to face high risk of infection and community hostility.

The threat of a walkout has raised alarm among international partners. If frontline staff step back, contact tracing and safe burial teams — both critical to breaking transmission chains — could collapse entirely.

Community-led response the way forward

Africa CDC and WHO have emphasised that top-down measures alone will not end this outbreak. They are urging local leaders, religious figures, and community health committees to take ownership of response efforts, including identifying suspected cases and promoting safe practices.

Trust remains a major hurdle. In several affected communities, residents have resisted response teams, sometimes attacking them, due to misinformation and historical grievances. Health officials acknowledge that rebuilding trust is as important as deploying medical countermeasures.

What to watch

Over the coming weeks, the focus will be on whether the international community can mobilise new funding to pay health workers and sustain the response. The WHO has warned that without immediate financial and logistical support, the outbreak could spread to neighbouring countries. The clock is ticking.