Congo fights ebola outbreak with local teams
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In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Claude leads a local disinfection team working to contain the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
The team travels through refugee camps and villages, cleaning areas potentially contaminated by the virus with chlorine solution. They focus on homes and communal spaces where infected individuals have been, understanding that Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids, not through the air.
The work is especially difficult in Djatsi, a village and refugee camp in a region troubled by armed groups and ethnic violence fueled by competition for gold. These conditions, combined with poverty, contribute to the virus’s spread as miners and traders unknowingly carry it to new locations. Alongside disinfection, a separate team identifies and educates people who may have been exposed, urging them to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms like headache, fever, or fatigue.
Many Congolese people delay going to hospitals due to rumors about the facilities or because they cannot afford transportation, leading to further infections within families. Despite facing risks, including being attacked with stones, Claude and his team persevere, hoping their local roots will build trust and help break the chain of transmission.
