health
People fleeing conflict in Congo complicate efforts to stop Ebola outbreak
DRC-Congo border — Even at the epicenter of the deadly, growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, aid worker Jean Marie Lipe often finds it hard to convince people the virus is real.
TL;DR
- Many people in the Democratic Republic of Congo do not believe the Ebola virus is real, complicating containment efforts.
- Disbelief stems from various misconceptions, including beliefs in mystical curses or Western conspiracies.
- Conflict has led to the displacement of tens of thousands, with refugees congregating in camps which are potential disease hotspots.
- The ongoing conflict and displacement make it difficult to control the spread of Ebola.
- Cross-border movement, like refugees fleeing to Uganda, presents challenges for health officials trying to track and contain the outbreak.
- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns the current outbreak could be worse than the West African crisis of 2014-2016.
- The number of confirmed cases has surpassed 800 since the outbreak was declared on May 15.