The death toll from the Ebola epidemic in the DRC rises to 100 deaths and 500 confirmed cases

At least 100 people have died from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, less than a month after authorities reported an outbreak of the disease in the east of the country.

Attacks on health personnel by angry residents, skepticism among some locals and armed conflicts in sensitive areas continue to complicate efforts to stem the epidemic declared on May 15.

Of the 550 cases of the disease confirmed as of Sunday, there were 101 deaths and 19 recoveries, according to the latest situation report, published Monday evening.

The epidemic is concentrated in the province of Ituri, where more than 90% of cases have been detected. Cases have also been recorded in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and the disease has spread across the border into Uganda.

The true number of cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is estimated to be higher, as the outbreak was confirmed several weeks late. The response has proven difficult, particularly because there is no vaccine or approved treatment.

This epidemic is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no vaccine or approved treatment, unlike the “Zaire strain”, another name for the Ebola virus, responsible for most of the 16 past epidemics of the disease in the DRC.

The rapid increase in the number of cases is partly explained by the strengthening of diagnostic capacities, which made it possible to test the backlog of samples collected previously, authorities explained.

Frontline health workers, poorly paid and lacking rest, have been repeatedly attacked by angry residents and have been unable to reach some communities due to conflicts involving armed rebel groups.

Eastern DRC has for years suffered attacks from dozens of distinct rebel and militant groups, some of which have links to foreign countries or the armed group Daesh (the Islamic State armed group).

The conflict “hinders access to interventions, disrupts surveillance and response activities, and increases the risk of undetected transmission,” the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday.

“Such incidents highlight the challenges of the context and the importance of working closely with local leaders and communities,” WHO added.