Democratic Republic of Congo suffers deadly Ebola outbreak

ADAM HARVEY, REPORTER: This newly built clinic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the frontline of a devastating outbreak of Ebola.

Medicins Sans Frontiers’ Dr Alex Bonane Murutsi must take extraordinary precautions before he enters the Elykia clinic’s red zone. 

Ebola is spread through bodily fluids, like sweat and vomit, and is exceptionally dangerous. This strain has killed nearly fifty per cent of those infected. 

Ebola is called a disease of compassion – those who care for the sick are at highest risk of contracting it. Among them more than 6300 confirmed cases so far are over 150 health workers

DR ALEX BONANE MURUTSI: Hello, how are you. 

ADAM HARVEY:  Nurse Maracelene Tabout has some Ebola symptoms. She’s being treated with fluids and so far, is holding up. 

ALEX BONANE MURUTSI: No diarrhea?

MARACELENE TABOUT: Its over. 

ALEX BONANE MURUTSI: No vomiting?

MARACELENE TABOUT: No. 

ALEX BONANE MURUTSI: Thank you very much and stay strong. It’ll be fine. 

ADAM HARVEY:  This Bundibugyo strain has been spreading far more quickly than previous epidemics – about five times as fast as the worst ever outbreak between 2013 and 2016.

DR CHRIS BREYER:  I think it has everybody in the field concerned because this outbreak is still not under control. 

ADAM HARVEY: Epidemiologist Dr Chris Beyrer has worked all over the world on the frontlines of the AIDs, COVID and now Ebola epidemics.

CHRIS BREYER:  It’s still expanding, and we still have a very limited set of tools. We don’t have a vaccine, although several are being evaluated. We don’t have effective therapy. 

DR RUPA NARRA:  We’re using basically supportive care. So that is IV fluids, oxygen, and antibiotics, antimalarial medications to treat other secondary infections or other potential comorbidities of these patients. But unfortunately, we still don’t have an approved treatment. 

ADAM HARVEY:  American paediatrician Dr Rupa Narra is helping treat children with Ebola in the city of Butembo, in the north-east of the DRC. 

The speed and scale of this outbreak is overwhelming. 

RUPA NARRA:  I’ve done over 20 missions with MSF as a paediatrician. I began in 2010, and I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.

CHRIS BREYER:  It’s breaking out not in a place where there’s stability and peace and good healthcare, but in a conflict zone.

It really emerged first in a mining town, which is full of miners and sex workers and militia. And there is conflict and military battle in many of the provinces where it’s now spreading, particularly in Kivu, North and South Kibo provinces, where you also have more than a million displaced people. And Ebola has now gotten into those displacement camps. 

ADAM HARVEY:  There are concerns that the virus could spread to major population cities like the DRC’s capital Kinshasa – population 18 million. 

In areas with weak government there is great distrust of authorities and health workers. Rioters have attacked Ebola clinics.

CHRIS BREYER:  It is a very chaotic and poorly run situation. But in addition to that, people are terrified of going into these Ebola treatment centres. The widespread belief is that if you go into these treatment centres, you will not come out alive.

GINA NIANGO:  Back home, there are rumours going round that they are injecting people with stuff that kills them. 

ADAM HARVEY:  Gina Niango’s mother tried to treat her illness with traditional medicine, but she got worse by the hour. 

GINA NIANGO:  I woke up with diarrhoea on my bed. I’m having diarrhoea without realising it. I called my mum, ‘Are you going to kill me with your medicine?’

ADAM HARVEY:  Gina got to the clinic in time and is now recovering.

ALEX BONANE MURUTSI:  This is our intensive care unit where we treat all our complicated cases, but with some hope of recovery. 

ADAM HARVEY:  Some of the most difficult cases involve very young children. Dr Narra said one young mother died of Ebola – her newborn has to remain isolated.

RUPA NARRA:  I walked in and there was a woman sitting with the newborn. And I thought, “Is that the auntie or who is this?” And it was an Ebola survivor who didn’t know the baby, who didn’t know the family. And she’s been caring for this newborn now who is now currently admitted. But this survivor, she’s been the one caring for this baby.

ADAM HARVEY:  There isn’t a vaccine for this strain of the virus yet. Vaccines for a different strain are arriving – they may offer partial protection. 

Former Department of Health head Jane Halton is chair of the organisation that’s trying to develop a vaccine.

JANE HALTON, COALITION FOR EPIDEMIC PREPAREDNESS INNOVATIONS:  It’s too early to tell. We are hopeful. So the four that we’ve got at the moment, we have two that have gone to what we call phase one clinical trials. That means we’re checking for safety. 

ADAM HARVEY:  Two vaccines have already gone into mass production before testing has even finished. 

JANE HALTON:  We’re producing hundreds of thousands of doses of both of those vaccines. And that means we’re ready to go to clinical trial on the ground in those areas as fast as we can.

ADAM HARVEY:  Dr Alex emerges from his protective gear with a message for those too frightened to receive treatment. 

ALEX BONANE MURUTSI:   And there you have it. We’ve shown you the Elykia ETC. Elykia means ‘hope’.  So we’re calling on everyone to come along. There is hope for recovery at the Elykia ETC.