Health officials and aid organisations are raising concerns that Ebola may be spreading rapidly through a displacement camp in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo after at least 30 people died there since early May.The deaths occurred at Kigonze camp in Bunia, located in Ituri Province, which is considered the epicentre of the current Ebola outbreak.Camp representatives reported that the victims experienced symptoms commonly associated with Ebola, including fever, headaches and vomiting.

However, the exact causes of death have not been confirmed because many residents and relatives initially refused medical testing of both living patients and deceased individuals.The unusually high number of deaths has alarmed local authorities, as the camp previously recorded only one to three deaths per month.

Aid workers and community leaders fear that Ebola could be circulating undetected among the region’s large displaced population, which numbers in the millions.Poor sanitation, overcrowded living conditions and resistance to health interventions have complicated efforts to contain the disease.The World Health Organization reported that 75 healthcare workers have been infected during the current outbreak and 17 have died.

Officials said Ebola may have been spreading for months before the outbreak was formally declared in May, exposing medical staff before protective measures were fully implemented.Shortages of essential protective equipment such as gloves and masks remain a concern.

Aid organisations also warned that reductions in international funding for water, hygiene and sanitation programmes have increased vulnerability to disease outbreaks.

Camps across eastern Congo continue to face inadequate toilet facilities, overcrowding and limited healthcare resources, creating conditions that can accelerate the spread of infectious diseases such as Ebola.