Beni: Survivors of previous Ebola outbreaks in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo are calling on communities to trust health workers and seek treatment quickly as the country struggles to contain a fast growing Ebola outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus.
Many survivors who lived through the devastating Ebola epidemic between 2018 and 2020 say the lessons learned from that crisis are more important than ever today. They warn that fear, misinformation, and distrust of authorities can allow the disease to spread more rapidly and make efforts to control it much more difficult.
The current outbreak was officially declared in May and has continued to expand across several provinces in eastern Congo. Health officials have reported hundreds of confirmed infections and more than one hundred deaths. Cases have been recorded in areas of Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu, raising concerns among local communities and international health agencies.
For many residents of Beni, memories of the earlier Ebola outbreak remain painful. That epidemic infected more than 3,400 people and claimed over 2,200 lives, making it one of the deadliest Ebola outbreaks in history. Survivors recall how many people initially refused to believe the disease was real. Rumors spread quickly, and some residents believed Ebola was linked to politics, witchcraft, or foreign interference.
As a result, many infected individuals delayed seeking medical help, increasing the spread of the virus. Survivors now say community cooperation and public awareness are essential if the current outbreak is to be brought under control.
Health authorities have warned that the new outbreak presents additional challenges because it involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. Unlike the more common Zaire strain, there is currently no approved vaccine specifically designed for this variant. Medical teams must therefore rely heavily on early detection, isolation of patients, contact tracing, and public cooperation to limit transmission.
The World Health Organization has reported that the outbreak may have been spreading for several weeks before it was officially detected. This delay allowed the virus to move through communities unnoticed, making containment efforts more difficult.
Contact tracing remains one of the biggest challenges. Health workers are attempting to identify and monitor people who may have been exposed to infected individuals, but insecurity, population movements, and mistrust have complicated these efforts. In some affected areas, authorities have struggled to reach all potential contacts.
Medical workers are also facing shortages of essential protective equipment. Reports indicate that some healthcare facilities lack sufficient supplies of masks, protective clothing, disinfectants, and other materials needed to safely treat patients. Several healthcare workers have become infected while caring for those affected by the disease.
International organizations, including the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, have increased their support for Congo's response. Emergency teams are working with local authorities to improve surveillance, strengthen treatment centers, and educate communities about how the virus spreads.
Despite the challenges, survivors believe there is reason for hope. They say people are now more familiar with Ebola than they were during previous outbreaks, and communities have a better understanding of preventive measures.
Their message remains simple but urgent: listen to health experts, avoid misinformation, report symptoms quickly, and seek treatment without delay. Survivors say these actions helped save lives during past outbreaks and could once again play a crucial role in stopping the spread of Ebola across eastern Congo.
As the country confronts another public health emergency, the experiences of those who survived earlier outbreaks may prove to be one of the most valuable tools in the fight against the deadly virus.