In the heart of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ebola outbreak that was officially declared on May 15 has become a daily reality for residents of Bunia, the capital of Ituri province. Eliezer Kasongo, a 25-year-old community volunteer, initially believed the epidemic would pass quickly, but as deaths mounted in his neighborhood, he realized the severity of the crisis.
Now, he spends his days going door to door, educating residents about prevention measures.
The outbreak, which likely began weeks before the official declaration, has its epicenter in the remote mining town of Mongbwalu. As of June 13, official figures report 782 confirmed Ebola cases and 181 confirmed deaths across three Congolese provinces.
However, health and aid officials warn that these numbers are likely underestimates due to testing delays and unreported deaths in remote villages and suburbs.
Bunia, a city of over 1 million people, now has the highest number of cases—212 according to official data. The city is saturated with handwashing stations, and loudspeakers in the central square broadcast messages urging calm.
Despite widespread acceptance of health advice, resistance persists. Kasongo notes that fear is palpable, with people dying daily.
A recent incident highlighted the challenges: a sick man on a motorbike taxi vomited blood on his driver in the city center and died on the spot. Specialist teams retrieved the body and decontaminated the area, but the driver fled, complicating contact tracing.
Only 56% of contacts have been traced across the affected provinces, according to the Congolese health ministry. The task is daunting in an environment plagued by armed groups, poor roads, and dense urban populations.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, despite its mineral wealth, remains one of the world's poorest countries, with over 85% of the population living on about $3 a day. Decades of armed conflict have devastated Ituri's health system, which is now under severe strain.
At Clinique Universelle hospital in Bunia, a decontamination team scrubbed walls with chlorine after a patient tested positive for Ebola, forcing the hospital to shut down. Hospital director Patient Mazirane, 38, said he and his colleagues had been working without personal protective equipment (PPE).
Although aid organizations have airlifted hundreds of metric tons of supplies, it is not enough. Mazirane expressed despair, saying he wanted to leave the profession because if he dies, no one will care for his children.
Several medical workers have already died.