Ebola cases rise as healthcare workers strike over pay

Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province have surged, with health officials reporting 1,200 new infections in the past month, a rise that coincides with a nationwide strike by medical staff over unpaid wages. The strike, which began on August 1, has halted many outpatient and vaccination services, drawing criticism from the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The strike follows months of delayed salary payments to more than 5,000 healthcare workers across the country, many of whom are stationed in remote Ebola treatment centers. According to the Ministry of Health, the stoppage has disrupted contact tracing, isolation protocols, and community outreach programs that are critical to containing the virus. In response, the government has pledged a 30‑day payment plan and increased funding for emergency response teams, while international partners have called for an immediate cease‑fire to resume essential services.

Authorities and international agencies are urging a swift resolution to the pay dispute, warning that continued disruptions could reverse gains made in the last two years of the outbreak. The World Health Organization has offered to mediate negotiations and will monitor the situation closely as it seeks to prevent further spread of the virus.