Frontline health workers in eastern Congo, battling an escalating Ebola outbreak, have gone for months without salaries, prompting strikes and threats to quit. Congo’s Ministry of Health reported 3,874 confirmed cases and 1,751 deaths, while AP reported 3,973 confirmed cases and 1,801 deaths as of Tuesday. This outbreak, declared less than one year ago in mid-May, is the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded and the fastest-spreading in Congo’s history.
Wiza Bondele, a member of the Ebola infection prevention and control team, described working seven days a week in heavy personal protective equipment for extended periods. These periods often exceeded safety guidelines. Bondele's team disinfects homes where Ebola victims have died, reducing transmission risks. Workers launched a strike less than one year ago in July after authorities failed to address their concerns over unpaid wages and hazardous working conditions. Some workers who eventually received payments were given $380 instead of the promised $510. Many others remained unpaid. Bondele worried about becoming infected and transmitting Ebola to his family. He considered leaving the job, waiting to see if authorities would honor their commitments.
Wage Suppression and State Neglect
Dozens of Congolese health workers protested today, Thursday, at the governor’s office in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province. Ituri accounts for nearly 90% of the country’s Ebola cases. These nurses, providing critical care, have not received wages or bonuses since the outbreak began in mid-May. The region is one of Congo’s most remote and vulnerable, ravaged by rebel conflict. Edouige Makosi, a protester, stated, “With this way of managing things, Ebola will not end in this province.” She urged authorities to find a solution quickly. Officials have previously blamed "logistical issues" for these payment delays, a common excuse for state-sanctioned wage suppression.
Escalating Crisis, Empty Promises
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warned the epidemic follows a significantly worse trajectory than previous outbreaks. Government data shows 674 patients are currently in isolation, mostly in Ituri. Authorities trace at least 75% of contacts after exposure. However, 60% to 70% of new cases are recorded outside monitored contacts. The outbreak spreads at an "alarming" rate, faster than tracking efforts. Doctors Without Borders stated this week that the outbreak is "spreading at an alarming and unprecedented rate." The medical charity added that the response, though expanding, "is still not reaching communities quickly enough to break transmission chains."
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with President Félix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa one day ago, on Wednesday. This was his second visit since the outbreak was declared. Tedros, accompanied by Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director-General Jean Kaseya, called the situation "deeply concerning." He urged authorities to "prioritize care and support for responders." The United States announced an additional $242 million in funding for emergency Ebola response. These measures, while presented as solutions, fail to address the systemic exploitation of labor that leaves frontline workers unpaid and vulnerable. Families affected by Ebola, like Georgine Imani, whose father died from the virus, appealed for stronger action.
Authorities also held nearly 200 boat passengers in quarantine near Kinshasa today, Thursday. One traveler from the boat died with Ebola-like symptoms. Dr. Jean Kaseya said the passenger became sick and disembarked nearly three weeks ago in Pimu, over 1,000 kilometers from Kinshasa. The capital has no confirmed Ebola case. Authorities did not disclose the boat’s current location or how long passengers would be held. Kaseya stated, “We decided to do that even if some of them didn’t have symptoms because we want to make sure that we don’t miss anything.” This state action prioritizes containment over transparency or the immediate needs of those detained.