Confirmed Ebola Deaths in DR Congo Reach 600 Amid Health Worker Payment Dispute

Confirmed Ebola Deaths in DR Congo Reach 600 Amid Health Worker Payment Dispute
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The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached at least 600, according to government data, as confirmed cases rose to 1,759.

Authorities said the figures were confirmed as of Tuesday, with 51 new cases and 20 deaths recorded in the previous 24 hours. Two additional suspected cases in Kisangani, one of the country’s largest cities, are still awaiting validation before being added to the official total.

The outbreak has hit three eastern regions, with Ituri province the worst affected. Healthcare workers there have threatened to walk off the job over delayed payments, saying they have not received wages or bonuses since the outbreak was declared on May 15. Some workers have already stopped working, according to reports.

Front-line staff also said they are operating with limited protective equipment and facing unfair treatment from authorities and response teams.

The dispute comes as clinical trials begin for treatments targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which is responsible for the current outbreak. The strain is generally considered less deadly than some others, but no approved vaccine is available.

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in May, after the virus had reportedly spread undetected for weeks through mining towns including Mongbwalu, Rwampara, and Bunia before reaching neighboring provinces.