Number of suspected Ebola cases in DR Congo passes 900 as health workers face attacks and shortages

Congolese authorities say that suspected Ebola cases have now passed 900 in the ongoing outbreak in the east of the country. The Congolese ministry of communication, in a post on X on Sunday, said there were 904 suspected cases and 119 suspected deaths. Authorities had previously announced more than 700 suspected Ebola cases, and more than 170 suspected deaths, mostly in Ituri province, where the outbreak is centred. The World Health Organization has said the outbreak now poses a “very high” risk for the Democratic Republic of Congo, but that the risk of the disease spreading globally remains low. Health authorities in the country are facing serious challenges as they try to stem the outbreak, which has been declared a global health emergency. There have been arson attacks on Ebola treatment centres in the country’s east – two centres in two towns were hit last week, exposing the anger in a region beset by violence linked to armed rebel groups, the displacement of a large number of people, the failure of local government and international aid cuts that experts say have stripped health facilities in vulnerable communities. Health workers take part in the funeral of Ebola victims in Butembo, North Kivu province. …