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. This year’s Ebola crisis in the Central African nation has already claimed the lives of more than 1,000 individuals, surpassing the previous epidemic’s toll at a much faster rate.
Official reports indicate 3,075 confirmed cases with 755 patients currently receiving treatment or isolated, resulting in 1,354 fatalities. Amidst this situation, approximately 100 staff members at an Ebola treatment center located at the outbreak’s epicenter protested and ceased work due to overdue performance bonuses.
The healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and security personnel at The Elikya Ebola Treatment Centre in Bunia, Ituri province, voiced their concerns about unpaid bonuses that have accumulated over two months. They vowed to continue their protest until a resolution is reached. The workers’ representative, Martin Bolombi, emphasized the urgency of the situation, citing the disease’s continued spread within the treatment facility.
Dr. Adelard Lufungula, overseeing the Ebola response operations, assured that the payment issue is being addressed, with workers now set to receive payments through mobile transfers to clear the backlog promptly. Last week, workers at Bunia General Hospital also went on strike due to unpaid wages since the outbreak’s onset in May 2026.
The Ebola outbreak has now affected five eastern provinces of the country, including Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uélé, and Tshopo. This outbreak is primarily driven by the rare Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain, with a fatality rate of around 40% and lacking an approved vaccine or treatment.
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka expressed optimism about potential new treatments entering clinical trials in the upcoming months. Experimental vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo strain are already undergoing trials, including human testing led by the University of Oxford.