‘Ebola has tortured us’: Fear grips eastern DR Congo as deadly virus spreads

Ebola has tortured us: Fear grips eastern DR Congo as deadly virus spreads

Ebola has tortured us – A sense of dread has settled over communities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as the Ebola outbreak continues to escalate. With suspected fatalities climbing, locals describe a growing panic, particularly in the gold-mining towns of Mongwalu and Rwampara. “Ebola has tortured us,” said a 28-year-old taxi driver in Rwampara, where the virus has become a daily reality. “People are dying rapidly, and we’re all terrified.” His words reflect the anxiety of many, as the outbreak spreads unpredictably and health workers race to contain it.

Struggling to keep pace with the outbreak

During a visit to Ituri province, the epicenter of the current crisis, Health Minister Dr Samuel Roger Kamba admitted that efforts to control the virus are lagging. He revealed that the outbreak may have been active for weeks before it was officially detected on 24 April. “We are playing catch-up,” Kamba stated, highlighting the challenge of responding to a disease that may have been circulating unnoticed. This delay has created a critical window for the virus to spread further, complicating containment efforts.

“Ebola has tortured us,” says a taxi rider in his late twenties in the gold-mining town of Rwampara. “I am scared because people are dying very fast… We are really afraid.”

The presumed origin of the outbreak traces back to a nurse who died in Bunia, the provincial capital, but was buried in Mongwalu. This location has emerged as a hotspot, with the majority of suspected cases and deaths concentrated there and in nearby Rwampara. Residents in Mongwalu expressed a mix of fear and frustration, with some attributing deaths to supernatural causes. The “coffin phenomenon” – a local belief that touching a deceased person’s coffin leads to death – has intensified panic, even as health officials strive to provide clarity.

Delayed diagnosis and community trust

The Bundibugyo strain, responsible for the current outbreak, presents unique challenges compared to the more familiar Zaïre species. While Zaïre is known for its severe symptoms, Bundibugyo often shows milder signs, leading to misdiagnosis as malaria. Dr Kamba explained: “There is heavy bleeding everywhere, very high fever. But Bundibugyo can show fewer obvious signs, which delays diagnosis because people think, ‘No, this is just malaria.'” This delay has allowed the virus to move undetected through populations, worsening its impact.

“There is fear,” said Fred Kiza, a resident of Rwampara. “It would be good if they gave us masks to protect ourselves.”

Despite the virus’s reach, community awareness remains limited. Health officials noted that formal alerts were only issued from 8 May, meaning many deaths occurred before the outbreak was officially recognized. “At community level, this hasn’t been effective,” Kamba explained. “It means someone may have died before him [the presumed index case], or someone else may have been sick before him, but no one reported it.” This lack of reporting has left health teams scrambling to track the virus’s spread.

Spreading into urban centers

The outbreak has now extended beyond rural areas into major cities, raising concerns about the virus’s potential to overwhelm urban populations. Cases have been confirmed in Butembo, Goma (a rebel-controlled city), and Butembo in North Kivu province, as well as in South Kivu. “The spread into large urban centers is a serious problem,” said an official, emphasizing the difficulty of managing the disease in densely populated areas.

In Goma, the largest city in eastern DR Congo, residents report a lack of adherence to basic public health measures. Handwashing, avoiding handshakes, and limiting gatherings are frequently ignored. “I’m heading to the border to report on people stranded there,” said José Mutanava, a local journalist. “I’m wearing a face mask, but not many people are.” His observation underscores the challenges faced by health authorities in enforcing preventive actions.

“Nobody can follow the barrier measures – maybe only when we see more deaths,” said an unnamed resident. “Today in the city center I saw only four people wearing masks.”

The strain’s virulence has also been compounded by the region’s ongoing conflict. Eastern DR Congo has been a battleground for years, and the virus has exploited the chaos to spread more rapidly. “Conflict has made things worse,” noted an official. “People are displaced, and there’s a lack of resources to respond effectively.” This context highlights the complex interplay between public health crises and political instability.

Past outbreaks and current lessons

This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, with the country having experience battling the Zaïre strain in previous years. However, the Bundibugyo strain is less common, having caused only two prior outbreaks in 2007 and 2012, which killed approximately 30% of those infected. “We need to understand how people became ill and sometimes even died without any report being filed,” Kamba added, stressing the importance of community engagement in outbreak management.

Save the Children, an international charity, warned that the Bundibugyo strain had not been previously documented in Ituri. Limited testing in the province initially focused on Zaïre, leading to delayed detection. “By the time the Bundibugyo strain was identified, it had already spread quite far,” said Greg Ramm, Save the Children’s DR Congo representative. “We are in a game of catch-up.” This revelation has prompted renewed urgency among health officials to adapt strategies for the new strain.

As of Tuesday, officials reported 514 suspected cases and 136 deaths, with one fatality also recorded in Uganda. The figures reveal the outbreak’s severity, yet the response remains fragmented. Despite Dr Kamba’s visit to Bunia over the weekend, residents in the capital question the pace of progress. “If there’s no treatment center here in the capital,” one local asked, “then what about other areas?” This sentiment highlights the disparity in resources between urban hubs and more remote regions.

The lack of fully operational Ebola treatment centers in key cities like Bunia, Butembo, and Goma has exacerbated fears. These centers, critical for isolating patients and providing care, have yet to be established five days after the outbreak was declared. “Daily survival takes priority,” said a resident in Goma. “It’s too much to ask people struggling to eat to follow these rules.” This perspective reflects the harsh realities of life in the region, where basic needs often overshadow health precautions.

As the situation unfolds, the question remains: how will communities in eastern DR Congo adapt to this new threat? With the virus spreading silently and fear taking root, the battle against Ebola is far from over. The combination of limited resources, cultural beliefs, and ongoing conflict presents a multifaceted challenge, one that demands both immediate action and long-term resilience.