More than 250 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo's ongoing Ebola outbreak, with over 1,000 cases reported nationwide since the 17th outbreak was declared on 15 May in Mongbwalu, a gold mining town in Ituri province. In the epicentre of the outbreak, artisanal miners continue to work despite the risks, citing the need to feed their families. Official data show 209 infections and 89 deaths in Mongbwalu alone, with local hospital head Richard Lokudu confirming that several miners are among the victims. The work environment makes adherence to preventive measures difficult, as miners like Justin Uketi describe constant physical contact during long hours spent breaking rocks in hazardous conditions. The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, responsible for this outbreak, has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Population mobility is worsening transmission, with miners arriving from other provinces and neighbouring countries such as Uganda, some earning only a few hundred dollars a week. Red Cross teams in protective gear have been active in the area, recovering bodies to prevent post-mortem spread. Miners report changing some behaviours: Juvastine Bahati said people now space out living arrangements and wash hands before eating. Jean-Baptiste Liwawi admitted fear of unknowingly working beside infected colleagues, adding that he relies on ginger and herbal mixtures for protection. Many patients still avoid hospitals, turning instead to traditional healers, a reflection of deep public mistrust in a region long affected by armed group violence. Despite the health crisis, gold trading remains active in the town centre, fuelled by record-high global prices.
Miners in Mongbwalu are risking exposure to a deadly, untreatable strain of Ebola simply to earn a few hundred dollars a week. Their continued presence at the mines underscores how survival pressures override health warnings in regions where state trust is eroded by years of violence. With no vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain and prevention measures nearly impossible to maintain in crowded mining conditions, the outbreak is likely to persist as long as economic desperation does. The reliance on herbal remedies instead of medical care reflects not ignorance, but a calculated choice shaped by lived experience in a neglected region.
💡 NaijaBuzz Take is AI-assisted editorial opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
