New Ebola outbreak in Congo kills dozens as donors urged to fund response

Goma, Congo — A deadly new Ebola outbreak in southern Congo has killed dozens and strained health systems as authorities warn they lack the funds to mount an effective response. The World Health Organization said Wednesday that 57 cases and 35 deaths have been reported since Congolese authorities announced the outbreak on Sept. 4, yielding a fatality rate above 61%.

The epicenter is the Bulape health zone in Kasai province, a remote area with poor road networks located more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Kinshasa. It marks the first Ebola outbreak in Kasai in 18 years. Health officials say the outbreak is rapidly exhausting already overstretched facilities, with the only treatment center in Bulape operating at about 119% capacity.

International responders say funding gaps are hindering the effort. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it is appealing for 20 million Swiss francs ($25 million) to reach about 965,000 people with urgent assistance and to bolster basic services such as clean water and protective equipment. The organization has allocated about 1.75 million Swiss francs ($2.2 million) in emergency funds so far, but officials warn that money will not be enough if donor backing remains uncertain.

U.S. funding has been a recurring factor in Congo’s Ebola response. Mathias Mossoko, the Ebola Response Coordinator in Bulape, said that the U.S. government has provided some small support, though he could not give details. The World Health Organization said its current funding for the outbreak response consists of a $2 million emergency fund and about $2.3 million from the United Kingdom, Germany and the Gavi vaccine alliance, far short of the roughly $20 million the agency estimates will be needed over the next three months. The Congolese national response plan is valued at about $78 million.

Jean Paul Mbantshi, chief medical officer of the Bulape health zone, said treatment for Ebola remains resource-intensive. Treating a single patient costs enormous resources, he said, noting the zone needs ambulances to move patients from remote areas to hospitals, as well as more personal protective equipment, medicines and vaccines.

Vaccination has begun, but progress has been slower than hoped. WHO data show 1,740 people in three health zones — Bulape, Bulambae and Mweka — had been vaccinated as of Sept. 21. The Bulape zone itself has a population of more than 212,000. Health officials say storage constraints prevent rapid, large-scale vaccination and vaccines are being transported in small batches, causing delays. Amitié Bukidi, chief medical officer of the Mweka health zone, said the response is still in the early stages and emphasized the need to expand community outreach and reach farmers in remote areas; he added that motorcycles would help access hard-to-reach communities and that greater involvement from international partners would be beneficial.