A surge in deaths at a camp for displaced people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is raising fresh concerns that the country’s Ebola outbreak may be spreading more rapidly than previously understood.
At least 30 people have died since the beginning of May in Kigonze camp near Bunia, the epicentre of the outbreak in Ituri province. Camp officials say the death toll is unprecedented, with fatalities far exceeding the one to three deaths typically recorded in a month. Several of the victims have tested positive for Ebola, while many others displayed symptoms associated with the disease, including fever, vomiting and severe headaches.
The outbreak has exposed the challenges of containing a highly infectious disease in camps housing thousands of displaced people. Kigonze alone is home to more than 15,000 residents, many living in cramped conditions where large families share temporary shelters separated by little space. Health workers fear such conditions could accelerate transmission if infections go undetected.
Containment efforts have been complicated by resistance from some residents, who initially refused testing and inspections of deceased relatives. Aid workers say this reluctance has made it difficult to establish the full scale of infections and delayed public health interventions.
The crisis is unfolding against the backdrop of a rapidly worsening national outbreak. Congo reported more than 1,000 confirmed Ebola cases by late June, with over 250 deaths recorded. Health authorities and international agencies warn that the true number of infections could be significantly higher because contact tracing remains incomplete and thousands of potentially exposed individuals have yet to be identified.
Unlike some previous Ebola outbreaks, the current epidemic involves the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Public health experts say this has made containment considerably more difficult and increased the urgency of preventive measures.
Humanitarian organisations also point to declining funding for water, sanitation and hygiene programmes as a major concern. Several aid groups have scaled back operations following reductions in donor support, leaving many camps with inadequate toilet facilities and limited access to handwashing stations. In Kigonze, residents report overflowing latrines and poor waste management, conditions that heighten the risk of disease transmission.
The outbreak is further complicated by ongoing insecurity in eastern Congo. Armed group violence has displaced millions of people and restricted access to some affected communities, making surveillance and medical response efforts more difficult. Population movements caused by conflict also increase the risk of infections spreading to new areas.
For health authorities, the deaths in Kigonze underscore a broader concern: that Ebola may be circulating more widely among displaced populations than official figures currently capture. With contact tracing gaps, strained health systems and worsening humanitarian conditions, officials fear the outbreak could continue to outpace response efforts unless containment measures are significantly strengthened.
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Emmanuel Abara Benson is a business journalist and editor covering artificial intelligence, global markets, and emerging technology.
He has previously worked with Business Insider Africa and Nairametrics, reporting on finance, startups, and innovation.
His work focuses on AI, digital economy, and global tech trends.
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