Beni becomes Ebola epicentre in North Kivu
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Mediacongo
Beni has become the main Ebola outbreak centre in North Kivu, five months after the outbreak began in the east of the DR Congo, and its treatment centres are exceeding their capacity. Authorities plan to expand two facilities and build a third, while civil society warns that preventive measures are being relaxed.
Five months after the Ebola outbreak was declared in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the city of Beni has become the main centre of the disease in North Kivu. Treatment centres are under pressure and their capacity has already been exceeded, according to Mediacongo, citing Dr Jérémie Katsavara, who is responsible for patient care.
Health authorities plan to expand the two existing centres and are considering building a third large centre. Beni is attracting patients from several health zones in North Kivu and Ituri because of its position as a crossroads, according to Mediacongo.
Civil society groups accuse people of relaxing preventive measures, particularly in bars and places where people consume food and drink. Joël Kambunga, spokesman for Beni's Urban Youth Council, also criticised the organisation of the response, while health authorities announced tighter controls.
Beni's rise comes after the city overtook Katwa with 711 confirmed cases on 1 November. The national death toll had previously passed 5,000 before reaching 5,103 deaths among 10,467 confirmed cases, according to previous figures published on 31 October and 3 November.
