In a displacement camp in Bunia, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, aid workers are responding to the Ebola outbreak with very limited resources for about 10,000 people, according to reports from multiple outlets. The camp has one handwashing station and one infrared thermometer used for identifying possible cases and reducing transmission. Accounts describe that essential sanitation and prevention items are scarce, including the absence of water needed to operate handwashing properly. Public health measures highlighted in the reporting include use of the infrared thermometer for screening and improvised or limited approaches to hygiene, such as sand and oatmeal, where standard supplies are not available.
The reports characterize Bunia as a central location in the outbreak and emphasize the strain placed on response efforts in settings for internally displaced people. While the accounts focus on what is lacking in the camp—particularly adequate water and sufficient testing equipment—they also describe ongoing efforts to provide basic prevention tools within the constraints. The coverage calls attention to gaps in logistical support for Ebola control in displacement settings.
