Measles, Ebola, Cholera, and Conflict: Challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

After decades of conflict, corruption, underdevelopment, and epidemics, communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to battle the second largest recorded Ebola Virus Disease outbreak.  So far, there have been 3,036 confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), and 2,035 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 67 percent. Twenty-nine health zones in three provinces are affected by EVD.  This wide geographic spread of the disease complicates the response, and increases the risk of further spread.  Eighty-eight percent of EVD contacts have been traced and monitored.  More than 210,000 people have received an EVD vaccine.  In order to keep much-needed international attention on the humanitarian situation in DRC, the UN Secretary General visited DRC last week and meet with humanitarian actors in Beni, and the President of DRC in Kinshasa.

So far, 895 confirmed cases of EVD are children.  School has now resumed in Beni and humanitarian organisations are monitoring the epidemiological data closely, combined with strengthened health messaging to reduce the risk of EVD spreading amongst children.

Surviving EVD is not the last hurdle survivors must overcome.  In addition to probably having lost loved ones, and stigma from their community and associates, a new study has identified that people who survive EVD infection face a dramatically higher risk of dying - probably from severe kidney damage - within a year of leaving hospital.  The study also confirmed that the mortality rates were higher among those who were in hospital for longer, suggesting that patients who had more severe cases of EVD may also have higher post-disease risks.

Making the humanitarian response even more challenging is the continuing conflict between communities, non-state armed groups, and Congolese security forces, which further exacerbate the prevailing socio-economic challenges that affect the most vulnerable Congolese. Those affected by this complex and widespread crisis remain exposed to persistent human rights violations, especially sexual and gender-based violence, chronic malnutrition and epidemics, such as cholera, measles, and EVD.

The humanitarian situation in the DRC remains volatile in at least ten provinces across the country. Although the humanitarian community is focused on the EVD response, there are significant incidences occurring in other parts of the country such as a resurgence of measles and cholera outbreaks.  More than 2,700 children have died from measles since the beginning of the year, far more than as a result of contracting EVD.