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🇳🇵 Nepal /Disasters & Emergencies

At least 30 deaths at Congo camp show Ebola could be spreading fast

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • At least 30 people have died in a camp for displaced civilians in northeastern Congo since early May, with officials suspecting Ebola due to the symptoms and high death rate.
  • Residents and officials have refused testing for the living or dead, hindering confirmation of the cause of death, though symptoms align with Ebola.
  • The spike in deaths highlights the vulnerability of displaced populations to diseases like Ebola, exacerbated by reduced funding for sanitation and hygiene measures.

A concerning surge in deaths, with at least 30 fatalities since the start of May, has been reported in Kigonze camp, a settlement for displaced civilians in northeastern Congo. Camp officials describe the death rate as unprecedented and suspect it may indicate a rapid spread of Ebola, given the reported symptoms.

People didn’t just die like this before.

— Desire Grodya BapiA camp spokesperson describing the unusual and alarming increase in deaths.

Confirmation of the cause of death has been challenging. Patients and their relatives in Kigonze camp, located in Bunia, the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, had, until recently, refused testing for both the living and the deceased. This resistance, coupled with severely limited sanitation measures, complicates efforts to contain the potential outbreak. Symptoms observed across the victims, including headaches, fever, and vomiting, are consistent with Ebola.

Camp President Dz’djo Ndrutsi Etienne stated that 10 people were buried in the past week alone. Kigonze camp is home to over 15,000 residents, and typically records only one to three deaths per month. Justin Zanamuzi, director of the aid organization Caritas, reported that his team witnessed several bodies covered in sheets on Wednesday, including those of children and a pregnant woman. Health teams in hazmat suits were seen disinfecting bodies and preparing small coffins as mourners expressed grief.

Our team tried to persuade people to accept doctors to inspect the bodies. They completely refused.

— Justin ZanamuziDirector of Caritas, highlighting the challenges in obtaining medical confirmation due to community resistance.

Aid workers have pointed to a significant reduction in funding for water, hygiene, and sanitation as a major contributing factor to the increased exposure to diseases like Ebola. Data from the UN indicates that funding for essential facilities such as toilets and handwashing stations in Congo has more than halved between 2024 and 2025. This year's appeal for $80 million is only 21 percent funded, leaving communities more vulnerable to rapidly spreading diseases transmitted through bodily fluids and waste.

These are conditions that no human being should have to live in. If you look around, people are dying one after another.

— Kato LonuA camp resident expressing the dire living conditions and the impact of the escalating deaths.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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