Medical Teams Accelerate Emergency Response to Congo Ebola Outbreak
Goma, 18 October 2026
Rapid local testing now delivers Ebola results in just one hour, enabling medical teams to scale up critical care across conflict-affected regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Expanding Treatment Capacity Across Eastern Provinces
To tackle the resurgence of Ebola alongside ongoing conflict, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has drastically scaled up medical infrastructure across five eastern provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) [1][2]. Following the official declaration of an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in May 2026, emergency operations have focused on high-risk hotspots in Ituri and North Kivu [1][2]. In Ituri province, MSF manages a 65-bed Ebola treatment centre in Mongbwalu and a 16-bed unit in Komanda, which can expand to 26 beds [2]. Additional infrastructure development in Ituri includes constructing 26-bed and 8-bed facilities in Niania, alongside isolation units in Fataki providing 20 beds, Drodro, and Angumu [2].
Managing Multi-Province Health Threats and Regional Spread
The epidemic presents an extraordinary challenge for communities already destabilised by decades of armed conflict and forced displacement [1][4]. Tens of thousands of displaced families across eastern DRC face severe health risks as new infection hotspots emerge weekly [3][4]. In North Kivu, where medical capacity remains severely stretched, MSF maintains a 40-bed facility in Munigi on standby, alongside a 30-bed centre in Butembo and a 32-bed centre in Beni [2][3]. Integrated preparedness measures have also been established in Rutshuru, Kibirizi, and Bambu to protect vulnerable local populations [2].
Community Engagement and Sustainable Healthcare Integration
Delivering care in eastern DRC requires navigating severe security constraints and deep-seated local concerns [1][2]. Highlighting the volatile operational environment, three MSF staff members abducted in North Kivu in 2013 remain missing [1]. To overcome community hesitation and build trust, MSF teams run systematic dialogue sessions in Bunia and arrange public visits to treatment facilities [1]. MSF team leader Nathanaël emphasised that these awareness sessions provide crucial opportunities for residents to raise questions, obtain accurate information, and directly influence operational adjustments [1].