DRC Health Workers Strike as Ebola Outbreak Hits Ituri Province

Escalating Crisis in Ituri Province

The current Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is now recognized as one of the most severe on record. While previous outbreaks, such as the 2018–2020 emergency, caused 2,287 deaths, health authorities warn that the current trajectory is even more dangerous. The virus, identified as the rare Bundibugyo strain, has no currently approved treatments or vaccines, leaving medical teams to rely on basic supportive care.

The epicenter of the outbreak remains Ituri province, a region already destabilized by protracted conflict and the displacement of thousands. According to the World Health Organization, Ituri accounts for nearly 90 per cent of all confirmed cases. The situation has been further complicated by the fact that the virus spread undetected for weeks before the official declaration on May 15, 2026.

Healthcare Workers Strike Over Unpaid Salaries

The response effort is facing a critical human resources deficit, with healthcare workers at facilities like Bunia General Hospital and Rwampara General Hospital staging strikes to protest months of unpaid wages. These frontline professionals are operating under extreme conditions, often lacking adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and facing hostility from communities that distrust the existence of the virus.

DR Congo Ebola Health Workers Threaten Strike Over Unpaid Wages

“If we don’t have staff working because they’re not being paid, it means that work isn’t being done and there’s a lot of work that needs to be here.”

Trish Newport, Emergency Programme Manager, MSF

The impact of these labor disputes is tangible. Anne Ancia, a WHO representative in the Congo, noted that while most workers have returned to their posts, the strikes have hampered efforts to maintain containment protocols. The risk to staff is profound; more than 100 health workers have been infected, and approximately 35 have died since the start of the outbreak.

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The Toll on Children and Community Stability

Children in the affected regions are suffering from both the physical threat of the virus and the secondary consequences of the health emergency. Save the Children reports that at least 189 children have died, accounting for over 20 per cent of the total confirmed deaths in the DRC. Thousands more are experiencing severe trauma, with many separated from their caregivers due to death or illness.

Dr. Babou Rukengeza, Save the Children’s Ebola Response Lead in the DRC, emphasized the psychological burden on this generation. The organization is currently operating over 18 permanent and mobile Child Friendly Spaces in Ituri, providing mental health support and safe environments for children to process their experiences through play and storytelling while adhering to infection prevention protocols.

Uncertain Path to Stabilization

While some government officials have reported early signs of stabilization—with Adelard Lufongola, operations manager for the national Ebola response coordination, noting a slight downward trend in case notifications—international observers remain cautious. The World Health Organization and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have highlighted that the response is currently struggling to keep pace with the geographic spread of the virus.

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The lack of a specialized vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain remains a significant hurdle. Until then, the focus remains on contact tracing, safe burials, and community engagement—a mission made increasingly difficult by the ongoing security crisis in eastern Congo.

As of July 20, 2026, the government reported 2,473 confirmed cases, with 999 deaths and 482 recoveries. The international community continues to monitor the situation, particularly as the outbreak has already crossed borders, with 20 cases and two deaths confirmed in Uganda.