• Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has infected 75 healthcare workers.
• 17 healthcare workers have succumbed to the disease.
• Current total confirmed cases stands at 896, with 232 deaths.
• The outbreak is evolving rapidly and has affected conflict areas.
• Measures are being intensified to control the outbreak and support healthcare workers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that 75 healthcare workers have been infected with Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo since the onset of the current outbreak, with 17 of those workers losing their lives to the virus. Marie Roseline Belizaire, WHO’s emergency director, emphasized the seriousness of the outbreak during a press briefing, highlighting the vulnerability of medical personnel who are in close contact with infected patients, which raises significant risks for them, according to Indiatimes.

Belizaire described the current situation in the northeastern DRC as "serious" and "evolving very fast." The outbreak was officially declared on May 15, but transmission is believed to have circulated undetected beforehand. To date, there are 896 confirmed cases, including 232 deaths, with over 90% of the cases concentrated in the Ituri province, a region already grappling with conflict and instability, according to Indiatimes and Channel News Asia.

Notably, healthcare workers have faced significant challenges, as more than 70 have contracted the virus, exacerbating an already strained healthcare system with one of the lowest ratios of healthcare workers to the population globally. Belizaire expressed concern that survivors are hesitant to seek medical help until symptoms worsen, often turning to traditional healers first, which delays treatment and worsens the situation, as reported by Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.

Infection control remains a pressing issue as basic protective equipment is in short supply. With aid resources dwindling, the WHO is responding to bolster healthcare workers' morale and ensure they have the necessary support. Measures are being put in place to trace contacts more effectively, with the aim of raising the coverage beyond the current 75% of known contacts, crucial for controlling the outbreak effectively, according to Al Jazeera and Indiatimes.