Attacks on Ebola clinics are intensifying with the epidemic

On the evening of February 24, unknown assailants went to the Ebola Treatment Center run by Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the town of Butembo, in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). , partially destroying the crucial health center. on the ground.

The brutal attack took place just three days after the bombing and burning of another MSF facility in the neighboring Katwa district. Both facilities were immediately closed for reasons of staff and patient safety.

Since then, attacks by armed militiamen and residents – who claim that atrocious contagion is an externally imported ploy – have intensified in Ebola clinics as the spread of the disease intensifies.

Dozens of health professionals have also been targeted by community criminals, including the great epidemiologist Richard Mouzako, who was shot earlier this month when the attackers shouted "Ebola does not exist." not".

"Insecurity is a major obstacle to the rapid intervention of interventions in affected communities. Basically, insecurity leads to lack of access and this is what leads to the increase in the number of cases. When we can not reach people, they do not have the chance to be vaccinated, or to receive life-saving treatments if they fall ill, "said Tarik Jasarevic, spokesman for the World Health Organization. health (WHO).

"We are anticipating a much worse scenario than today. Violent incidents have a profound impact: creating fear and anxiety within the community, increasing mistrust and making access to certain areas difficult for security reasons. "

Hemorrhagic fever is now ranked as the second most serious Ebola outbreak; after killing more than 1,000 people in the African country since the month of August, second after the 2014 eruption, which killed more than 11,000 people across the continent and even infiltrated victims to the states -United.

According to WHO data, since January 2019, there have been 130 attacks causing 4 deaths and 38 injuries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Of these, 97 attacks affected health staff and 44 incidents affected health facilities.

Antagonists have reportedly ravaged hand-washing devices installed in the city during the past week; and have reportedly been released by a security team tasked with taking care of the remains of a woman who died of the Ebola virus.

At the end of last month, Reuters also reported that Butembo health workers took to the streets with signs saying "Ebola exists" in protest of the growing plots that threatened them and threatened to strike if security was not improved – another shot to curb the last wave.

It is known that more than a hundred anti-government rebel groups operate in the region, which has long been shaken by instability and conflict.

"Identifying specific groups responsible for specific attacks is difficult. Many of these groups resist central government control and see this public health response as a threat from the government, "said Gregory D. Koblentz, director of the graduate program in biodefense at George Mason University.

"Others have a more general suspicion vis-à-vis foreigners. Finally, health centers and health workers may be caught in the crossfire of competition between different groups. The conflict between so many armed groups is a toxic stew that makes public health campaigns extremely difficult. "

In addition to fighting the spread of the deadly disease and endangering safety, professionals also fight against the deep mistrust of the community. Rather than seeking medical help to cure their symptoms, many locals choose to stay home amidst a multiplication of conspiracy theories ranging from the "Ebola virus" introduced to the community by the opponents. It is commonly called the "Ebola trade". It is feared that it will only be a Western scam for profit.

More than 111,000 people have been vaccinated since the resurgence of the outbreak nine months ago, says WHO, but insecurity and concerns over the attacked centers have also prevented many people in need from To get the vaccine.

In addition, the hearings are generalized and, instead of being vaccinated, one will be injected as a means of developing "Ebola activity".

Such theories have also become political torches, as party leaders swore that last summer's epidemic in the months leading up to the December elections was only a simple tactic. to force the inhabitants of the regions not to vote.

Every day, an average of 20 new cases are diagnosed and many NGOs in the region agree that the situation is simply "alarming".

"The many new cases reported have increased significantly in recent weeks, reaching their highest level since the outbreak's declaration," MSF said in a statement.

And Dr. Dena Grayson, a Florida-based doctor who has been studying Ebola treatment for a long time, noted the deep concern over the speed with which the disease – transmitted by bodily fluids – could be another international calamity.

"You have very densely populated countries like Rwanda just across the border and once in this urban setting, it's extremely hard to contain," she noted.

But in the current state of affairs, health professionals hope that by implementing a "ring strategy" (which involves both vaccinating anyone directly exposed to an identified Ebola virus second cycle of individuals who experienced this direct exposure), the epidemic can at least be managed much better than almost five years ago.

"The focus is on identifying people who are sick, their isolation from the community so they can not spread the disease, finding contacts to find other people who may have been infected, and burial. risk-free for Ebola victims, "added Koblentz.

"But this whole epidemiology and vaccination is a lot of work. Unfortunately, many NGOs have had to lay off most of their workforce due to armed conflict and attacks on health workers and facilities.

"Insecurity in the DRC has prevented the government and international partners from containing this epidemic. The combination of an Ebola outbreak and a civil war is unprecedented and a situation that the global health community is not ready to handle adequately. "