Gold Mining Spreads Ebola in Congo: Why Weak Health Systems Can't Stop It

An Ebola outbreak in a gold-mining town in Congo has sickened 246 people and killed 65. Artisanal mining—informal, small-scale digging where workers move frequently—accelerates disease spread. The death rate sits at 26 percent. International aid faces obstacles: active conflict, fragile health infrastructure, and porous borders make containment difficult.