Ebola deaths in Congo top 500 as health workers threaten to strike

July 6, 2026 - 20:19

The death toll from Congo's ongoing Ebola outbreak has now exceeded 500, according to health officials, as the crisis deepens amid threats of a strike by frontline medical workers. Out of more than 1,500 confirmed cases, at least 500 people have died, marking one of the deadliest episodes in the country's history with the virus.

The outbreak, centered in the conflict-ridden eastern provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, has been complicated by violence, community mistrust, and logistical hurdles. Health workers on the ground, already stretched thin, are now threatening to walk off the job. They cite unpaid wages, dangerous working conditions, and a lack of adequate protective equipment as key grievances. A strike could cripple containment efforts, allowing the virus to spread further into densely populated areas and across borders.

The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak remains a major public health emergency. Efforts to vaccinate and track contacts have been hampered by attacks on treatment centers and the displacement of thousands of people fleeing militia violence. Without a resolution to the workers' demands, experts fear the death count could climb even higher in the weeks ahead.