在刚果民主共和国，卫生部门未能控制住以东部伊图里省为中心的严重埃博拉疫情。自5月15日宣布疫情爆发以来，该疾病迅速传播，截至7月14日，已确诊2073例感染，死亡796人。令人担忧的是，政府在7月9日证实病毒已蔓延到两个新省份，包括乔波省，在拥有150万人口的城市基桑加尼，一名受害者接受了传统葬礼。模型预测，该病毒在三个月内传入邻国南苏丹的可能性高达70%，这将威胁到一个医疗体系极其脆弱的国家。
疫情的真实规模仍然难以确定。1976年共同发现该病毒的彼得·皮奥特指出，只有30%的新感染病例与已知接触者有关，这表明存在广泛的未追踪传播。茂密的森林、武装冲突以及矿工和约90万流离失所者的迁移阻碍了控制工作。此外，资金不足的诊所缺乏基本的防护装备，使其成为传播媒介。这种风险导致数十名前线医护人员生病，并造成25人死亡，从而促使许多诊所关闭。
资金短缺进一步削弱了应对措施。尽管国际捐助者已承诺提供超过12亿美元——远高于估计所需的5.18亿美元——但实际仅支付了1.15亿美元。因此，月薪仅为80美元且依赖70美元奖金的当地医护人员因薪资和恶劣的工作条件而举行罢工。如果在控制埃博拉疫情的同时，没有立即的财政支持来解决清洁饮水和疟疾治疗等基本需求，那么说服当地民众配合卫生准则将仍然极其困难。
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, health authorities are failing to contain a severe Ebola epidemic centered in the eastern province of Ituri. Since the outbreak was declared on May 15th, the disease has spread rapidly, reaching 2,073 confirmed infections and 796 deaths by July 14th. Alarmingly, on July 9th, the government confirmed that the virus had spread to two new provinces, including Tshopo, where a victim received a traditional burial in Kisangani, a city of 1.5 million people. Modeling predicts a 70% probability that the virus will cross into neighboring South Sudan within three months, threatening a nation with a highly fragile healthcare system.
The true scale of the epidemic remains difficult to determine. Peter Piot, who co-discovered the virus in 1976, notes that only 30% of new infections are linked to known contacts, indicating widespread untraced transmission. Containment is hindered by dense forests, armed conflict, and the migration of miners and approximately 900,000 displaced people. Additionally, underfunded clinics lack basic protective gear, turning them into transmission vectors. This risk has caused dozens of front-line health workers to fall ill, resulting in 25 deaths, which has prompted many clinics to close.
Funding shortages further cripple the response. Although international donors have pledged over $1.2 billion—well above the estimated $518 million required—only $115 million has actually been paid out. Consequently, local healthcare workers, who earn a meager monthly salary of $80 and rely on a $70 bonus, went on strike over pay and poor working conditions. Without immediate financial support to address basic needs like clean water and malaria treatment alongside Ebola containment, convincing local populations to cooperate with health guidelines will remain exceedingly difficult.
Source: The Ebola epidemic is getting out of control
Subtitle: It has spread to five provinces in Congo and may soon reach South Suda
Dateline: Jul 16, 2026 01:56 PM | Bunia