Nurses in the Democratic Republic of Congo have warned that a fresh outbreak of Ebola is presenting “massive challenges” as the Red Cross confirms that two of its volunteers have died from the virus. The deaths, announced late on Tuesday, underline the acute risks faced by frontline workers in a region where conflict and weak infrastructure have long hampered disease control. The outbreak, declared on 21 April in the city of Mbandaka, has so far recorded 23 cases, including 15 deaths. Health authorities fear the true number could be higher given the difficulty of tracking cases in remote areas.
The Red Cross said the volunteers, who had been involved in community engagement and safe burial practices, died in separate incidents in the past week. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of these brave colleagues. They died serving their communities,” the organisation said in a statement. The deaths come as the World Health Organisation warns that the outbreak poses a “high risk” at the national level, and a “moderate risk” for the region. The WHO has dispatched a team of epidemiologists and logisticians to assist the Ministry of Health, but access remains complicated by insurgent activity and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Nurses at the main treatment centre in Mbandaka have told reporters that they are struggling to cope. “The number of cases is increasing, and we are short of protective equipment. Morale is low. We need more support, not just in terms of supplies but also psychological support,” one nurse said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Healthcare workers in the DRC have long called for better pay and working conditions, but the Ebola outbreak has exposed chronic underinvestment in the country’s health system.
The current outbreak is the third in two years in the DRC, and the 14th since the virus was first identified in the country in 1976. The previous outbreak, which ran from 2018 to 2020, was the second deadliest on record, killing more than 2,200 people. It was contained only after a massive effort that included the use of experimental vaccines and the deployment of thousands of health workers. Experts now fear that international attention and resources have been diverted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the DRC more vulnerable.
The Ministry of Health has begun a vaccination campaign targeting frontline workers and contacts of confirmed cases. More than 1,000 doses of the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine have been administered so far, according to officials. But logistical challenges remain: the vaccine must be kept at minus 80 degrees Celsius, a near impossibility in parts of the country without reliable electricity. The government has appealed for international assistance, but the response has been muted compared with previous outbreaks. The United Nations has allocated $3 million from its emergency fund, but aid agencies say more is needed.
The Red Cross deaths have prompted calls for better protection for local volunteers. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) urged the international community to mobilise resources quickly. “People are dying, and health workers are being infected. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past,” said MSF’s emergency coordinator in the DRC. For now, the situation remains fluid. The Ministry of Health has imposed restrictions on movement in Mbandaka, but compliance is inconsistent. The next few weeks will be critical in determining whether this outbreak can be brought under control before it spirals into a major crisis.
