DRC Ebola Death Toll Crosses 2,500 as UN Warns of Exponential Spread

Red Cross volunteers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo carry the body of an Ebola victim from the morgue before loading it into a vehicle for transfer to a cemetery, as part of safe and dignified burial operations aimed at preventing the spread of the virus.

The Ebola virus continues spreading exponentially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to warnings from the United Nations. Sounding the alarm that the outbreak is growing faster and wider than ever before, UN's Senior Ebola Coordinator Julien Harneis reported that the death toll has now surpassed 2,500 people. He called for urgent funding to control the epidemic, warning that current financial resources will be depleted within weeks.

Efforts to stem the epidemic since its onset in May have encountered significant hurdles. Ongoing conflict, coupled with insufficient government control and poor infrastructure in the eastern DRC, has severely disrupted response operations. Where health workers and facilities attempt to operate, they frequently face attacks from frightened and frustrated residents, according to Harneis. Over the past six months, more than 260 attacks on health workers have been recorded, resulting in eight deaths among personnel, while more than 160 healthcare workers have fallen ill and 43 have died.

Aid workers report that conspiracy theories regarding the outbreak being a hoax are prevalent among locals, leading to hostile reactions when health restrictions prevent traditional personal burials of loved ones. Furthermore, response efforts face complications from the absence of a vaccine targeting the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which causes severe haemorrhagic fever. Persistent security concerns continue to obstruct containment operations.

Harneis emphasized that these challenges unfold in a region marked by three decades of conflict and immense humanitarian needs. The UN official warned that the epidemic risks spreading to neighboring countries without an intensified response, and he urged for increased staffing and resources to effectively reach remote areas.