The Latest Ebola Outbreak and Global Response

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The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently experiencing the worst outbreak of Ebola since 2018 with a rare strain that is fatal in up to 50 percent of cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) said earlier this week that health officials are "catching up" with the spread of the virus. They warn the crisis is far from over with at least 340 cases confirmed and the outbreak is crossing over into neighboring Uganda and South Sudan. Some of the health facilities reported that they were overwhelmed by the number of people suspected to have Ebola but some were turned away because there were insufficient beds. 

An appeal was made to the international community to assist the authorities in the DRC, but the rapidity of the outbreak has been difficult to track due to the regional conflicts that have engulfed the country due to violence by militia groups. Because health workers are unable to safely access the outbreak areas, a recent analysis from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes that "the scope of the outbreak is likely larger than that represented by available data and might prove challenging to contain and control." The map below shows confirmed cases of the virus:

Domestically, the M23 and the recognised government of the DRC appear to recognise the state of emergency with the rebels allowing some shipments of health supplies to go into areas that Rwanda-backed group controls. In another stronghold held by the Allied Democratic Forces (which is an Islamic State affiliate), there are conflicting reports of how many people were diagnosed with Ebola after testing at a government laboratory. Fighting in these regions have continued as well as suspicions that the virus is not real and fighting to obtain bodies for funeral rites. The World Health Organization has appealed to neighbouring countries to not close their borders as it can disrupt the livelihoods of citizens. Instead, they should step up screenings at border crossings as well as surveillance so that people can be treated for suspected cases. It is a difficult decision to protect their own citizens as every country has its own sovereign decision about how they want to deal with the Ebola outbreak. 

Internationally, an emergency response has been slow. It is clear that security infrastructure is limited and sending health workers into volatile areas requires delicacy to ensure their safety. The United States reacted swiftly during the last outbreak a decade ago, but this time around, the Trump Administration prefers to stay as far away as possible. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that they “cannot and will not allow any cases of Ebola to enter the United States.” They also shipped one American physician diagnosed with Ebola to a hospital in Germany as well as six other health workers with possible exposure to Germany and the Czech Republic for monitoring. Since the withdrawal of the United States from the WHO, a chance for leadership in global public health is available. There is speculation that China would be suited to fill the void left by the US. As an “economic powerhouse with epidemic control and biotech expertise, as the next global power that could commit supplies, money and medical workers to the effort”, it is possible that the Chinese government can lead an effective response. The difficulty lies in whether or not they want to jump right in. A five-person team arrived in Kinshasa this week with protective gear and laboratory equipment. At the same time, there has been no response from China regarding the WHO’s request for aid to contain the outbreak. Without proper funding or secure rapid response or an influential nation state to lead, the Ebola outbreak could become uncontrollable.