UMVA has learned that harrowing scenes are unfolding at health facilities at the epicenter of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with medical workers themselves falling ill with the deadly virus.
A 25-year-old midwife and a doctor in his early 30s are sick with Ebola symptoms, including fevers and severe joint pain, according to their colleague Elisabeth Furaha, the medical director at SOFEPADI's Karibuni Wa Mama Medical Center in the northeastern province of Ituri. They had cared for patients with similar symptoms in early May, before the outbreak was detected.
The hospital still lacks access to tests, and an adequate supply of protective gowns and plastic masks to keep doctors and nurses safe. "We live with fear in our stomachs," Furaha said, speaking in French. "Every day, there are healthcare providers and patients dying."
The outbreak took the world by surprise, with nearly 250 suspected Ebola cases and 80 deaths by the time it was detected. The head of the World Health Organization sounded the group's highest alarm on May 17, declaring the outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern."
Despite international attention, doctors in northeastern Congo say that many clinics lack even rudimentary supplies: gloves, protective gowns, masks, Ebola tests, and even clean water. Without rapid action to bolster those on the front line, researchers say, the outbreak will grow exponentially, costing even more money and risking lives far beyond Congo.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that some supplies from the country's Ministry of Health and other United Nations agencies have landed in northeastern Congo, but not nearly enough to stock hundreds of health facilities where Ebola patients may seek care. Furaha has spent her own money on gloves, masks, and a tarp to build a makeshift tent to isolate patients with Ebola symptoms from the rest of the hospital.
Conflict and logistical hurdles have hindered the response to the outbreak. Aid workers say shipments of medical supplies have been delayed by suspended flights within Congo and between Congo and neighboring countries. Roads are often badly eroded or blocked by armed groups, making it difficult to move between remote clinics.
The situation is dire, with researchers warning that the outbreak could lead to regional instability and have repercussions for the world. "All signs point to this becoming the biggest outbreak we've ever seen in the DRC," said a leading expert. "That could lead to regional instability, and that has repercussions for the world."
The Ebola outbreak has been exacerbated by a lack of testing, with many patients unable to access reliable tests. Malaria and other diseases have initial symptoms similar to Ebola, causing fevers, soreness, and gastrointestinal problems. Without testing, patients who turn out to have Ebola can infect those who don't.
The crisis has been further complicated by a lack of support from the international community. The US is far less involved than in the past, with aid workers saying that the Trump administration's abrupt withdrawal of funds from the US Agency for International Development has made Congo's already ailing health system dysfunctional.
Front-line workers in Congo face a similar fate if help doesn't arrive soon. Furaha said her hospital is running out of clean water. "All of this accumulates," she said. "Healthcare workers will reach a breaking point."
