Ebola outbreak in DR Congo nears 3,000 cases as health workers strike

Health workers at an Ebola treatment center in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo went on strike Saturday, citing unpaid wages. The walkout has disrupted patient care at the epicenter of the country's rapidly growing Ebola outbreak, according to reports from the region. Staff said the action follows mounting frustration over delayed payments for work carried out in high-risk conditions.

Confirmed cases in the outbreak are nearing 3,000, with more than 1,300 deaths recorded so far, making it one of the deadliest Ebola outbreaks in recent years. Health workers have said payment issues have gone unresolved for weeks, prompting Saturday's strike action. The rising toll underscores how severely the outbreak has strained the country's health system.

The disruption comes as international health agencies work to contain the spread of the virus in the region. Local health authorities face mounting pressure to resolve the payment dispute quickly, as any prolonged suspension of care risks accelerating the outbreak's toll. Restoring full staffing at the treatment center is seen as critical to slowing further transmission.