Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Introduction

The mission of public health sectors in nations across the globe is to promote the fulfillment of society's interests by assuring conditions in which individuals can be healthy (Schneider & Schneider, 2016). However, public health sectors in different parts of the world experience various challenges and concerns that pose threats to the health and wellbeing of populations. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is an example of a country that faces a public health concern or crisis relating to an Ebola outbreak. The country has witnessed an increase in the number of Ebola cases in recent months. As cases continue to increase, Congo's public health sector experiences significant logistical challenges in dealing with the outbreak. This paper discusses the outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo based on current area statistics.

Understanding Public Health Concerns and Crises

Public health is an issue that continues to attract attention among different stakeholders and remains the subject of many public discourses. While public health stories dominate many public conversations, the concept is relatively difficult to define precisely. Public health professionals and other relevant stakeholders are constantly faced with the need to maintain the health and wellbeing of the population (Schneider & Schneider, 2016). However, these professionals and stakeholders face numerous challenges that hinder their effectiveness in establishing conditions in which people can be healthy. This sector is characterized by concerns and crises that threaten the health and wellbeing of communities.

Public health concerns and crises refer to difficult or complex situations in the public health system that affect people or communities within a specific geographical area. In some cases, public health concerns or crises affect human populations across the entire planet. These concerns and crises create social inequalities in health, resulting in inequitable access and low quality of care services. Public health epidemics or pandemics are health concerns or crises characterized by inadequate healthcare services and inequitable access to care. Such concerns or crises are also sometimes characterized by the rapid spread of a disease or illness. That rapid spread generates complexities in efforts by public health officials and other stakeholders to contain the disease or illness. The recent Ebola outbreak in western Congo is an example of a public health concern or crisis. As the number of Ebola cases continues to increase, the country faces a deepening public health crisis given the rapid spread of the disease and the limited resources available to contain and mitigate it.

Ebola Outbreak in Western DRC

The total population of the Democratic Republic of Congo was 4,620,000 as of 2015, with a gross national income of $4 per capita as of 2013 (World Health Organization, 2020). Life expectancy in this country as of 2015 was 63 years for males and 66 years for females. The DRC spends approximately $323 on health per capita. Public health remains a major issue for the government given the various health problems facing the country. Governmental expenditure on public health is shaped by priority health problems, key national challenges, and trends in the national response. Throughout the years, the country has experienced different health problems including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

In addition to these priority health problems, Congo faces public health concerns and crises that emerge from time to time. The Ebola outbreak is a public health concern and crisis that has become a major problem for the country in recent years. Ebola is a virus that causes hemorrhagic fever and is spread through direct contact with body fluids from an infected individual (Al Jazeera and News Agencies, 2020). Vomiting, diarrhea, and coughing blood are the most common symptoms. Apart from hemorrhagic fever, Ebola causes severe bleeding and organ failure that can result in death. Some of the various ways in which the virus spreads include kissing or sharing drinks, touching contaminated surfaces, animal or insect stings or bites, and exposure to blood products such as unclean needles. While numerous efforts have been made to fight this disease, the number of cases has increased over the past few years.

The recent outbreak is the 11th Ebola virus outbreak that the DRC has had to contend with. The first Ebola outbreak in this country was identified and characterized by scientists in 1976. Since then, the country has experienced recurring outbreaks of the virus. The second-largest Ebola outbreak in Congo was declared over by the World Health Organization on June 25, 2020. It lasted for nearly two years and was challenging to contain because it occurred in an active conflict zone. This second-largest outbreak affected 3,481 people, of whom 2,299 died and 1,162 survived (World Health Organization, 2020). During this period, the World Health Organization worked with different stakeholders and partners to vaccinate more than 303,000 people and undertake other public health measures to stop the spread of the virus.

According to the World Health Organization (2020), the number of Ebola cases in the ongoing outbreak increased significantly, particularly in western DRC. As of August 2020, the number of cases had increased by nearly two-fold, reaching 100 in slightly over five weeks. The first case of the ongoing outbreak occurred in Mbandaka on June 1, 2020. Mbandaka is a city on the Congo River with a population of approximately one million people. This latest outbreak was declared before the previous one in the East had fully concluded. After the first case was reported, the virus spread to other places in the region, including remote villages in Equateur province, which is characterized by dense forest with few roads spanning over 300 km. Even though the number of infections in the latest outbreak remained relatively low at the time, the pace of spread was consistent, as shown in case data (Reuters, 2020).

Conclusion

Public health concerns or crises refer to difficult or complex situations that affect people or communities in a particular geographical area or across the globe. Countries invest in their public health systems to help enhance the health and wellbeing of their populations. However, public health concerns or crises emerge from time to time despite significant investments in the health sector. The Democratic Republic of Congo is an example of a country experiencing a public health crisis brought about by an outbreak of the Ebola virus in the west. Since the first case was reported on June 1, 2020, more than 100 new infections were reported in less than five weeks. Public health officials and partners are concerned that the virus is evolving at a worrying pace, while numerous geographic, financial, and logistical challenges continue to hinder containment efforts.

References

Al Jazeera and News Agencies. (2020, July 14). 'Great concern' as new Ebola outbreak grows in western DR Congo. Al Jazeera. Retrieved September 10, 2020, from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/concern-ebola-outbreak-grows-western-dr-congo-200714034610314.html

Reuters. (2020, August 22). Ebola outbreak in western DR Congo hits 100 cases. CGTN Africa. Retrieved September 10, 2020, from https://africa.cgtn.com/2020/08/22/ebola-outbreak-in-western-dr-congo-hits-100-cases/

Schneider, M., & Schneider, H. S. (2016). Introduction to public health (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

World Health Organization. (2020). Congo — Country profile. Retrieved September 10, 2020, from https://www.afro.who.int/fr/countries/congo

World Health Organization. (2020, August 21). Ebola outbreak in western Democratic Republic of the Congo reaches 100 cases. Retrieved September 10, 2020, from https://www.afro.who.int/news/ebola-outbreak-western-democratic-republic-congo-reaches-100-cases

World Health Organization. (2020, July 3). Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — North Kivu, Ituri 2018–2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020, from