Healthcare workers on the frontlines of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have begun an unofficial strike. Those on strike say that they are working in poor conditions with inadequate safety equipment and low wages.
As of today, an X post by BNO News reported that 1,729 Ebola cases and 582 deaths have occurred in the DRC and Uganda, where the Bundibugyo strain of the virus is spreading in an already chaotic region gripped by conflict and mass migration.
Government officials in Ituri said the missing payments are because of the broader implications of the outbreak. “The fact that Bunia airport is closed is hampering the very implementation of the response, particularly certain aspects of the flow of funds. This is one of the reasons that may account for the delay in payment,” Akilimali Pierre, the incident manager at Congo’s National Institute of Public Health, told the Associated Press (AP News).
This strike is promoting fears that transmission will increase and more people will die from the virus.
“People Are Hiding” During Ebola Outbreak, Making Containment Difficult
This outbreak is already the third largest in history, and health officials warn that without treatments or improved containment policies, this will become the largest on record.
Yesterday, in an email sent to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) employees, acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, said the outbreak requires a renewed call for frontline responders. Bhattacharya said the CDC’s involvement will last for several months and require more personnel.
Ebola Health Care Workers Threaten To Strike As Virus Spreads
Currently, the Ebola outbreak is designated as a level 1 response for the CDC, which requires the “largest number of staff possible to work 24/7 on the response,” the email said. However, more personnel would be needed to help prevent further spread.
An additional complication is the current strain of this virus in circulation. The Bundibugyo strain has proven difficult to treat as the world at large is more accustomed to the Zaire strain and its methods of infection, transmission, and treatment.