Emergence of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Analysis by Annabelle Ghanem, Staff Writer

June 15th, 2020

Struggling with over a hundred cases a day, the Democratic Republic of Congo has yet to win its battle against the infamous global enemy, the coronavirus. Medical and health personnel have been attempting to contain the spread of the virus within their borders since March, while simultaneously being struck by what the WHO labeled as the “world’s largest measles outbreak,” topped off with a Cholera epidemic. 2020 has been an overwhelming challenge for the DRC to say the least, and unfortunately, they are now forced to face a fourth enemy in the health sector, one they are quite familiar with. The Ebola virus has managed to resurface in the Democratic Republic of Congo, solidifying its 11th appearance in the nation with death and illness. The DRC is currently facing four different threats, forcing its health sector to overcome what is arguably its greatest challenge. What does this mean for the Democratic Republic of Congo?

In 1976, the first ever Ebola outbreak emerged in none other than the Democratic Republic of Congo. The virus was found in the proximity of the Ebola River, and then spread across different corners of our world, killing thousands, and infecting an even greater number. Researchers believe that the disease’s origin can be traced back to animals, and was later transmitted between humans “through close and direct physical contact with infected bodily fluids,” as well as, “indirectly, by contact with previously contaminated surfaces and objects.” The Democratic Republic of Congo has had a long history with the emerging virus, with a very recent confrontation beginning in 2018. The nation was just coming out of an Ebola wave that engulfed the DRC for almost two years, resulting in the loss of over two-thousand lives. The Ministry of Health had placed a forty-two-day countdown that would solidify the end of the DRC’s 10th Ebola outbreak. Unfortunately, their celebrations have been put to a halt, as the virus has found its way back to the Congolese, claiming five lives thus far. However, after years of death and illness, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s response to the Ebola virus has evolved tremendously. 

With the help of the WHO, the DRC has managed to upgrade its prevention and containment methods, while simultaneously running several tests in hopes of finding a possible cure for the virus. Although there is no official Ebola vaccine advertised by the market, the Democratic Republic of Congo has witnessed significant change in the status of infected patients after using two trial drugs, which director of the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci claimed to be, “the first drugs that, in a scientifically sound study, have clearly shown a significant diminution in mortality for people with Ebola virus disease."

However, the differentiating factor between the Ebola Virus and viruses such as COVID-19, is not the fast rate of infection, but rather the fast rate of fatality. Victims of the Ebola virus are often ones who are diagnosed late, and therefore struggle to respond to treatments. Medical personnel are fighting against none other than time as they attempt to save the lives of the infected. This has resulted in the involvement of international organizations such as the WHO, who aim to help the DRC in its attempt to combat the recurring virus and find a permanent solution to eradicate its prominent threat.

Unfortunately, the coronavirus seems to be derailing the response methods initiated against the Ebola virus in the DRC. With multiple restrictions on travel and excessive border control, medical personnel are faced with great difficulties as they try to make their way to Mbandaka, where the virus reemerged. “I need to move the team from Goma and elsewhere to Mbandaka, but you need to get approval from the specialization committee on Covid to let you go there,” said Edouard Beigbeder, a UNICEF representative dispatched in the DRC. Unfortunately, as previously mentioned, timing is of the essence in regards to the Ebola spread, and no intentions of loosening the COVID-19 restrictions have been shown, as the coronavirus continues to circulate within the nation’s borders. This will further prolong the delay in medical personnel and equipment to areas in which the virus is likely to spread. Thus, the Congolese are faced with a harsh predicament, questioning their responses to both viruses, as they seem to be clashing with one another.

As the country continues to face several health threats, it is difficult to not wonder why the DRC is constantly engulfed with illness and epidemics. However, recognizing and understanding that most of these viruses, especially Measles and Cholera, have spread due to the financial disparities scattered across the nation, the curiosity is laid to rest. With 80% of Congolese living in extreme poverty, vaccines and clean provisions, such as food and clothing, are not easily accessible to around 77 million of the nation’s people. These disparities have also increased the death tolls of viruses such as Ebola and COVID-19, preventing victims from seeking proper health care, as people are pushed into an unhygienic way of life that exposes them to infection.

Looking at the history of the Ebola virus in the DRC, it is more than likely that it will continue to spread across the country, claiming lives and victimizing civilians. The nation must instigate a plan that would simultaneously combat the multiple viruses congested within its borders, for many Congolese cannot afford to encounter any of the epidemics, let alone several of them. We must all stand in solidarity as the Democratic Republic of Congo faces a great challenge, one that could result in great innovations within the international medical sector, or an increasingly high death toll.