Ebola Outbreak Is Becoming 'Overwhelming'

Hospitals that were already stretched thin in eastern Congo are now buckling under a fast-expanding Ebola outbreak. There were 904 suspected infections as of Sunday, the Congolese ministry of communication said, per the Guardian, while the World Health Organization previously described at least 177 deaths. Specialized treatment units are often unavailable, leaving patients confined to ordinary wards, and some facilities are turning away people with other serious illnesses, reports the Wall Street Journal. "Hospitals are fighting with no tools at all," Africa CDC chief Jean Kaseya said Saturday, warning that the region is in the "hardest phase" of the "overwhelming" crisis.

The Bundibugyo-strain outbreak is centered in Ituri Province and has spilled into Uganda, which has reported five cases and tightened borders, while Rwanda has shut key crossings. With only one doctor per 10,000 people in Congo, Red Cross volunteers are fanning out through villages to advise on preventative measures. Insecurity and distrust are compounding the problem: militants linked to ISIS have attacked villages near the epicenter, crowds have torched Ebola tents after disputes over burial practices, and some patients have fled. Additionally, aid groups say they lack crucial supplies, including face shields, testing kits, and body bags. Together, Congo and Uganda are requesting $320 million from donors. The US has pledged $50 million for up to 50 treatment clinics, though it's unclear when those might be up and running.