DR Congo Ebola death toll reaches 600 as healthcare workers strike

DR Congo Ebola death toll reaches 600 as healthcare workers strike

The death toll from an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reached 600, with 1,759 confirmed cases, according to government data released Wednesday, July 9, 2026. The totals were confirmed as of Tuesday, with 20 deaths and 51 new cases recorded in the preceding 24 hours.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus, was declared on May 15 and represents the country's 17th Ebola outbreak. It has spread across 37 health zones in three provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu. Health authorities report that 750 patients are currently in hospitalization or isolation, leaving a bed occupancy rate of 94 per cent.

As the crisis intensifies, healthcare workers in the Ituri province — the hardest-hit region — have begun walking off their jobs. Front-line staff issued an official notice to provincial and national authorities over the weekend, threatening a strike if wages were not paid within 24 hours. While no official strike has been declared, some workers had already stopped working by Tuesday.

The affected workforce includes doctors, nurses, safety and security teams, community outreach workers, and those tasked with burying deceased patients. Some professionals told The Associated Press they have not received wages or bonuses since the May 15 declaration. They also alleged they are working with limited gear and facing unfair treatment from response teams and authorities.

"Since the Ebola virus disease outbreak was declared, we've been demanding payment for our work,"

Dr. Biensi Kano, member of the epidemiological surveillance committee in Bunia, via AP

Dr. Kano added that the lack of benefits exposes us and our families to significant socio-economic difficulties and seriously undermines our living conditions.

Protests erupted Monday outside the Rwampara Ebola treatment center, where workers set tires on fire. Police intervened to restore order after the activity caused brief panic. Other workers face physical danger; community investigator Dr. Ben Bakule reported that a group of angry young men attacked him and colleagues in late May while they were tracing contacts in the village of Tutu, located in Djugu territory.

The government's National Institute of Public Health incident manager, Akilimali Pierre, told AP that the closure of Bunia airport has hampered the response and the flow of funds, which may account for payment delays. In Ituri, officials stated they have met with workers and are addressing their concerns. Last month, Health Minister Roger Kamba assured response teams in Mongbwalu that the government was prioritizing working conditions, stating, All doctors, all nurses and all staff working on the response will be fully supported. We have the money for that.

The virus had been spreading undetected for weeks through Bunia, Rwampara, and the mining town of Mongbwalu before the World Health Organization declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in May. WHO representative Dr. Anne Ancia noted Tuesday that population movements and insecurity continue to fuel the spread, while some treatment centers are nearing full capacity.

Response efforts are further complicated by limited supplies, gaps in contact tracing, insufficient treatment capacity, and community resistance to post-mortem sampling. Access is also restricted in areas controlled by armed groups.

The Bundibugyo strain is generally viewed as less deadly than other Ebola strains, but it currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. However, enrollment for clinical trials for a treatment is beginning now.

Current government data excludes two suspected cases in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province, as test results are being validated. One case is linked to the village of Nia-Nia in Ituri, where the first illnesses were reported, but the second case does not appear to have a geographic link beyond Kisangani.