The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has surpassed 9,000 reported cases, with more than 4,380 deaths, according to government figures. Officials warn that the actual number of infections could be much higher as fear and misinformation discourage people from seeking medical treatment. In Butembo, health workers say clinics are increasingly empty, with fewer women seeking maternity care amid rumours that healthcare facilities are spreading the virus. Some residents are choosing to self-medicate or consult traditional healers rather than visit Ebola treatment centres. The consequences extend beyond Ebola, with the UN reporting a sharp decline in routine childhood vaccinations in parts of Ituri province and a nearly 70 percent increase in maternal deaths between May and July compared with the same period last year. Health workers are urging communities to seek medical assistance, warning that mistrust and stigma are worsening the outbreak and putting more lives at risk.
Al Jazeera’s Ama Boateng reports.
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