The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) is intensifying its Ebola response, as health workers face a rising number of suspected infections while doing all they can to prevent the spread of the virus.
At Mongbwalu General Hospital in Ituri, medical teams are treating patients while also tracking who they have come in contact with so that they can look for signs of new infections.
The added responsibilities are putting strain on frontline staff, who frequently have to perform tasks outside their normal scope of work.
"Our workload today is completely different from the one before the epidemic. We are working much harder and it's more challenging. When patients are discharged from the treatment center without someone to accompany them. I have to play two roles, providing care while also supervising them. It weighs on me, but this is our mission and we are doing our best," said Heritier Kumburi Ngabu, head nurse at Mongbwalu General Hospital.
The government and international partners are expanding the hospital's Ebola treatment center to allow suspected cases to be isolated and treated more quickly.
"Our treatment center currently operates 113 beds, which is substantial, and a second facility is under construction to reinforce our response. Anyone who has been in contact with patients is monitored closely. The moment a contact shows symptoms, they are classified as a suspected case and transferred to the treatment center," said Richard Lopayi, a medical doctor.
Yet infrastructure alone cannot stop the spread. Curbing the spread of the deadly virus depends heavily on public cooperation.
"Imagine that someone falls ill, decides to stay at home, and refuses to come to the treatment center. If that person later dies in the community, they may have infected dozens of people. When that happens, it becomes harder to break the chain of transmission," Lopayi said.
The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo has surpassed 2,000, according to figures released Tuesday by the country's public health authorities.
The country has recorded 4,381 confirmed cases, including 2,011 deaths, with the overall case fatality rate standing at 45.9 percent. Over 700 patients remain in isolation or hospital care, while 869 people have recovered, according to official data.
Cases have been reported in five provinces -- Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo -- with the province of Ituri remaining the epicenter of the outbreak.
DRC health workers struggle with surging Ebola cases
DRC health workers struggle with surging Ebola cases
