The Democratic Republic of Congo faces its latest Ebola outbreak, marking the 17th occurrence since the virus was identified in the 1970s. The current outbreak is one of the most severe due to delayed detection.

Declan Walsh, the chief Africa correspondent, provides insights from his experience in Congo. He observed efforts in an Ebola ward, where health workers struggle to manage patients with limited resources and external assistance.

Health workers disinfected the body of a presumed Ebola victim in Mongbwalu, Democratic Republic of Congo, last week.

Image Credit: Arlette Bashizi for The New York Times

A Race Against Time in Congo

Currently situated in the epicenter of the outbreak, Declan reports from Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, and nearby Mongbwalu, the believed origin of the outbreak.

Traveling there revealed much about the outbreak’s conditions. The road to Mongbwalu, lined with soldiers and checkpoints, reflects the region’s history of ethnic conflict. Additionally, Mongbwalu’s status as a gold-mining hub attracts thousands of migrant workers. These factors contribute to the rapid spread of the virus.