Struggle to maintain control of ebola epidemic in DRC

LONDON: Health workers are grappling to control an ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The death toll is nearing 2000 after a year.

There is now a vaccination for the disease, previously considered incurable. The vaccination is 97.5% effective in stopping infection and has been used to inoculate more than 180 000 people.

But the virus is still spreading rapidly, and health officials remain deeply concerned about the proliferation of the illness.

The World Health Organisation has reported that distrust of health workers and resistance to health care are jeopardising the ebola response.

The situation worsened when voters in ebola hot spots were barred from voting in the January presidential election, elevating fears that ebola had been brought to the region for political gain.

The former health minister has blocked the use of another vaccine that is under development.

Dr Oly Ilunga said the use of a new programme would undermine the fragile faith in the current vaccination programme and that it would be counterproductive to introduce it.

His stance outraged some health officials, who maintained they would save more lives by using the new vaccination.

The precarious situation was epitomised in April when unidentified armed men killed an epidemiologist in Butembo, an ebolaaffected town.

Two of the victim’s colleagues were injured, which prompted the International Rescue Committee and Doctors Without Borders to reconsider its operations there.

Communication strategies to counter widespread misinformation about the virus appear to be just as limited as they were in West Africa, slowing attempts to halt the spread of the disease.

Given the lack of public services in the affected areas of the DRC, it is hardly surprising that citizens are suspicious of a sudden public and international health initiative.