Survivors have recounted their experiences of battling the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus – a strain for which no approved medicine or vaccine currently exists.
Congo is grappling with an outbreak of the virus, with at least 282 confirmed cases reported.
The central African nation’s health ministry indicates that the majority of cases, 264, are concentrated in the eastern Ituri province.
The outbreak, which began weeks ago, has seen over 1,000 suspected infections.
Government data reveals the disease has now spread across 22 health zones in three eastern provinces.
Despite efforts by the World Health Organization to highlight progress, such as new supply deliveries to under-resourced health centres, significant challenges persist.
Congo’s health ministry identifies early detection, rapid isolation of cases, rigorous contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, and strengthening infection prevention and control in medical facilities as critical hurdles in containing the remote region’s crisis.
Meanwhile, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations said Monday it would commit up to $62 million to accelerate development of three experimental vaccines targeting Bundibugyo.
The three in development are from the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Moderna and the University of Oxford.
Health workers have been at high risk. The WHO honoured five of them as survivors over the weekend during a visit by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as he opened a new Ebola treatment center in Bunia, capital of Ituri province.
Baraka Bulambulu, a nurse, said that he was overjoyed after his final Ebola tests returned negative results.
“Coming out of this illness alive is an indescribable joy,” Mr Bulambulu said with a wide grin.
Ezo Étienne, another nurse who recovered, said he had started feeling dizzy as he checked on patients.
“I called the team and told them, ‘Something’s wrong here,’” he recalled.
“I decided to rest for a bit, and a few minutes later I started vomiting.”
The virus is spread through close contact with sick or deceased patients’ bodily fluids. Treatment has mostly targeted patients’ symptoms, the WHO has said.
“Your courage gives hope and your living story that this outbreak can be stopped,” Mr Tedros told the health workers on Sunday.
Despite challenges that include threats by armed groups and anger against health workers by some wary residents, the recoveries are “a victory worth celebrating”, said Dr Dieudonne Mwamba Kazadi, director-general of Congo’s National Institute of Public Health.
“It’s a strong message that it is possible to recover from Ebola when seeking care early in a dedicated health facility,” he added.
Neighbouring Uganda has reported nine cases of Ebola in this outbreak and closed its border with Congo seeking to limit its spread.
Although more than 20 Ebola outbreaks have taken place in Congo and Uganda, the Bundibugyo virus has been rare.
