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Ebola Outbreak in Eastern DRC Leaves Medics Struggling for Protective Gear
In the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has surged to more than 550 confirmed cases and 100 deaths in North Kivu, the province most affected by the 2026 outbreak. Health workers are running low on essential personal protective equipment (PPE), a shortage that has forced some to improvise with makeshift gear and transport bodies on taxi roofs.
The outbreak, declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization on 16 May 2026, has seen 34 healthcare workers infected and seven fatalities among them. The situation is compounded by logistical challenges: the Bunia airport, the outbreak’s epicenter, remains closed, and Uganda—normally a major source of supplies—shut its border last month to curb spread.
According to the International Rescue Committee, stocks of chlorine and boots are nearly exhausted in North Kivu. Chief doctor Pablo Lwanzo Paluku of the Butembo zone reported that a suspected Ebola victim’s body was wrapped in a blue tarpaulin and carried on a taxi roof because a body bag or ambulance was unavailable. “What little we have is improvised,” Paluku said.
Only a quarter of the critical supplies needed for the next three months have arrived in Congo and Uganda, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Face shields and alcohol gel are particularly scarce. The cost of high‑protection suits has risen 40% since last month, reaching about $35 per suit, according to Frantz Celestin of the International Organization for Migration.
The price surge is partly linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted imports from Dubai warehouses and increased transport costs on alternative routes. Procurement is further hampered by limited transport infrastructure and insecurity in the region.
U.S. aid has been a major contributor to the response, with the State Department reporting delivery of 150 tons of medical supplies and a pledge of more than $200 million to Congo and Uganda. However, U.S. funding cuts and the withdrawal from the World Health Organization have strained the response. CARE’s country director in Congo, Amadou Bocoum, said the organization’s budget was cut by a third, delaying the start of PPE distribution by ten days after the outbreak was declared.
USAID, which had previously coordinated rapid release of funds for PPE within 48 hours of an outbreak, was dismantled last year. Former USAID officials noted that the agency’s logistics systems were “pretty good,” and that the loss of that capability has left responders “building the plane as we fly it.” Professor Salim Abdool Karim, advising Africa CDC, said USAID’s expertise in procuring trucks, fuel, and drivers was sorely missed.
On the front lines, protective suits are slowly arriving but too late for some. Denis Urwothun Rwothng’a, a medic in Bunia, said three of his colleagues had died from the virus.
The outbreak’s rapid growth and the shortages of PPE highlight the fragility of the region’s health infrastructure, already weakened by ongoing armed conflict. The United Nations and regional partners continue to call for increased support to ensure that health workers can safely treat patients and contain the spread.
As the situation evolves, international agencies are monitoring supply chains, seeking to secure additional PPE and chlorine, and coordinating with local health authorities to strengthen contact tracing and case management. The World Health Organization remains engaged, urging continued vigilance and support for the affected communities.
The current status is that the outbreak is still expanding, with new cases reported daily. The international community is awaiting further funding commitments and logistical solutions to address the critical shortages that threaten to undermine the response.
The outbreak, declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization on 16 May 2026, has seen 34 healthcare workers infected and seven fatalities among them. The situation is compounded by logistical challenges: the Bunia airport, the outbreak’s epicenter, remains closed, and Uganda—normally a major source of supplies—shut its border last month to curb spread.
According to the International Rescue Committee, stocks of chlorine and boots are nearly exhausted in North Kivu. Chief doctor Pablo Lwanzo Paluku of the Butembo zone reported that a suspected Ebola victim’s body was wrapped in a blue tarpaulin and carried on a taxi roof because a body bag or ambulance was unavailable. “What little we have is improvised,” Paluku said.
Only a quarter of the critical supplies needed for the next three months have arrived in Congo and Uganda, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Face shields and alcohol gel are particularly scarce. The cost of high‑protection suits has risen 40% since last month, reaching about $35 per suit, according to Frantz Celestin of the International Organization for Migration.
The price surge is partly linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted imports from Dubai warehouses and increased transport costs on alternative routes. Procurement is further hampered by limited transport infrastructure and insecurity in the region.
U.S. aid has been a major contributor to the response, with the State Department reporting delivery of 150 tons of medical supplies and a pledge of more than $200 million to Congo and Uganda. However, U.S. funding cuts and the withdrawal from the World Health Organization have strained the response. CARE’s country director in Congo, Amadou Bocoum, said the organization’s budget was cut by a third, delaying the start of PPE distribution by ten days after the outbreak was declared.
USAID, which had previously coordinated rapid release of funds for PPE within 48 hours of an outbreak, was dismantled last year. Former USAID officials noted that the agency’s logistics systems were “pretty good,” and that the loss of that capability has left responders “building the plane as we fly it.” Professor Salim Abdool Karim, advising Africa CDC, said USAID’s expertise in procuring trucks, fuel, and drivers was sorely missed.
On the front lines, protective suits are slowly arriving but too late for some. Denis Urwothun Rwothng’a, a medic in Bunia, said three of his colleagues had died from the virus.
The outbreak’s rapid growth and the shortages of PPE highlight the fragility of the region’s health infrastructure, already weakened by ongoing armed conflict. The United Nations and regional partners continue to call for increased support to ensure that health workers can safely treat patients and contain the spread.
As the situation evolves, international agencies are monitoring supply chains, seeking to secure additional PPE and chlorine, and coordinating with local health authorities to strengthen contact tracing and case management. The World Health Organization remains engaged, urging continued vigilance and support for the affected communities.
The current status is that the outbreak is still expanding, with new cases reported daily. The international community is awaiting further funding commitments and logistical solutions to address the critical shortages that threaten to undermine the response.
