At least 30 deaths in DR Congo displacement camp suggest Ebola spreading fast

At least 30 people have died since the start of May in a displacement camp in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The South China Morning Post reports that camp officials describe the death toll as unprecedented and that some of the cases have been confirmed as caused by the Ebola virus.

The east of the country hosts hundreds of thousands of people who have fled armed conflict and now live in crowded conditions, which makes the spread of infectious disease easier. International teams, led by the World Health Organization and Doctors Without Borders, are expanding the number of isolation units and broadening the vaccination campaign.

Experts say the camps' limited logistical access and past attacks on health facilities fuelled by misinformation have delayed the response. The government says it has deployed additional health personnel and stepped up coordination with neighbouring Uganda. Testing and vaccination capacity is expected to be sharply increased in the coming days.