Gold rush spreads ebola - Doctor warns about movement of Ituri miners in eastern DRC
Frequent movement between remote gold-mining sites and towns in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Ituri province is hampering efforts to contain the country's deadliest Ebola outbreak, which has killed more than 3,200 people.
A video report from Viory showed miners working at a gold site in Ituri and using hand-washing stations, while residents and health workers at a local hospital underwent temperature checks and followed hygiene measures.
Dr Richard Lokundu, medical director at Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital, said the absence of restrictions on movement was making contact tracing increasingly difficult.
"We are trying to contain the situation, but we have never imposed restrictions on people's movement," Lokundu said. "These constant movements of the population make the response extremely difficult."
He called for greater public awareness, urging people who have been in contact with confirmed cases to remain in place rather than travel to other communities.
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For miners, however, staying away from gold sites can mean losing vital income. Miner Laringa Phanel said hand-washing stations had become part of daily life, with workers washing their hands before working and eating.
Taxi driver Blaise Musa said some residents initially attributed deaths to "mystical causes," but attitudes changed after medical teams arrived and began conducting blood tests.
The Bundibugyo virus outbreak was confirmed in May and spread from Mongbwalu across six provinces in eastern DR Congo. Containment efforts have been particularly difficult in Ituri and neighbouring areas, where armed violence, displacement, a fragile health system and movement along mining and commercial routes have complicated contact tracing.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
