DRC Ebola Outbreak, Aid Worker Attacks

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is grappling with a rapidly spreading and deadly Bundibugyo type of Ebola outbreak, with nearly 1,000 suspected cases and over 220 suspected deaths. The situation is exacerbated by widespread distrust among residents, who have attacked healthcare workers and facilities, including those run by Médecins Sans Frontières and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Aid efforts are further complicated by armed conflict in the region and weakened disease surveillance due to aid cuts from entities like the United States. The World Health Organization and United States — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe the outbreak is larger than reported, and the virus has begun to spread to neighboring Uganda, infecting health workers there. The timeline of the outbreak may be pushed back significantly due to the deaths of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement volunteers in March.