Health workers at an Ebola treatment center in eastern Congo have initiated a strike over unpaid salaries, disrupting patient care amid the country’s accelerating Ebola outbreak. The walkout occurred Saturday at the Elikya Ebola Treatment Center in Bunia, located in Ituri province, the epicenter of the crisis.
According to government data released Friday, the outbreak has confirmed 2,973 cases, including 1,309 deaths, marking what authorities describe as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record in Congo. Despite ongoing efforts to contain the virus, the response has been complicated by logistical challenges, conflict, and community mistrust.
Approximately 100 health workers, including doctors, nurses, and security personnel, staged the protest calling for payment of performance bonuses that have been overdue for two months. Martin Bolombi, one of the striking health workers, highlighted the urgency, noting that patients continue to die amid the disruption. “A solution must be found for us,” he said.
The strike follows earlier labor actions by medical staff at Bunia General Hospital, the region’s largest medical facility, where unpaid salaries have also caused work stoppages. Some healthcare professionals reported not receiving any pay since the outbreak began in mid-May.
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo is attributed to the Bundibugyo virus, a less common strain for which no approved vaccines or treatments currently exist. This contrasts with the Zaire strain, responsible for previous outbreaks in the country, which has available vaccines. The Ministry of Health reports that 766 patients remain hospitalized or in isolation, while 540 have recovered.
Efforts to trace contacts of infected individuals and identify the initial source of the outbreak have been hindered by ongoing armed conflicts, displacement, and illegal mining activities in Ituri. Security threats, funding shortages, and community resistance have further complicated response operations.
On Friday, Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa visited affected areas in Ituri, including treatment centers in Rwampara and Mongbwalu, where she was confronted by health workers demanding resolution of payment issues. Dr. Adelard Lufungula, operations manager for the Ebola response, stated that the government has begun addressing payment problems by shifting compensation to mobile banking systems, with outstanding arrears expected to be cleared shortly.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that over 100 healthcare workers have contracted Ebola during the outbreak. The agency also recently endorsed enrollment in a clinical trial testing two experimental treatments for the Bundibugyo strain in Ituri.
Despite rapid transmission in Congo, the WHO assesses the global risk of the outbreak spreading beyond Central Africa as low. The virus transmits through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons rather than airborne routes, limiting its potential for widespread international dissemination.