Healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have initiated a strike following the confirmation of over 3,000 Ebola cases in the ongoing outbreak. The current Ebola crisis in the Central African nation has resulted in more than 1,000 fatalities, surpassing the 2014-2016 epidemic rate by nearly threefold.
Official reports indicate that there have been 3,075 confirmed cases, with 755 individuals currently receiving medical care or isolated. The death toll stands at 1,354.
At the heart of the outbreak, 100 staff members at an Ebola treatment facility in Bunia, Ituri province, protested and stopped work due to overdue performance bonuses. The employees have demanded prompt action to address the two months’ worth of outstanding payments.
Martin Bolombi, a striking healthcare worker, emphasized the urgency of receiving compensation to combat the disease effectively. Dr. Adelard Lufungula, overseeing the Ebola response operations, assured that efforts are underway to resolve the payment matter by transitioning to mobile payments and clearing the backlog promptly.
Recent unrest over unpaid wages also led to a strike at Bunia General Hospital, with employees reporting no received wages since the outbreak began in May 2026. The Ebola virus has now spread across five provinces in the eastern region of DR Congo, posing a significant public health challenge.
The current outbreak is fueled by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain, known for its high fatality rate of around 40% and the absence of an approved vaccine or treatment. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka expressed hope for new treatment options entering clinical trials in the coming months.
Ongoing clinical trials for experimental vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo strain are in progress, with human trials conducted by the University of Oxford. The situation remains critical as health workers and officials strive to contain the deadly Ebola outbreak in the region.