The Ebola outbreak in Congo has crossed another grim milestone, with government figures showing 2,011 confirmed cases and 754 deaths. Authorities have described it as the country’s fastest-growing Ebola crisis, underscoring the pressure on an already strained health response.

At the same time, more health workers have gone on strike, including staff at Bunia General Hospital. The walkout centers on unpaid wages, adding fresh disruption to efforts to care for patients and contain the spread of the virus.

Many medical workers say they are operating in extremely difficult conditions while going without adequate pay. That combination has raised concerns about how long front-line staff can continue working effectively as the outbreak expands.

The rising case count and labor unrest highlight the dual challenge facing Congo’s health system: responding to a deadly epidemic while also addressing the practical needs of the workers leading the response. As infections and deaths continue to mount, pressure is growing on authorities to stabilize both the outbreak response and hospital staffing.