restoring public trust amid the Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC
The Ebola virus continues its relentless spread through the eastern reaches of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In the war-torn provinces of North Kivu, where Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) operates alongside local health authorities in Butembo and Beni, the focus has shifted from emergency response to rebuilding trust. Teams are adapting treatment protocols to local realities, enhancing community engagement, and scaling up awareness campaigns to curb transmission.
misinformation and the shadow of the ‘Ebola business’
This 17th Ebola outbreak has emerged against a backdrop of persistent insecurity, deep-seated distrust, and a flood of dangerous misinformation. In Butembo and Beni, communities still reel from the trauma of the 2018–2020 epidemic. Grief over lost loved ones, limited access to transparent information, and the strict no-visitation policy imposed on patients have eroded public confidence in medical interventions.
Tensions reached a boiling point in 2019, when an Ebola treatment center (ETC) was partially torched, forcing MSF to temporarily suspend operations in the area.
“Some neighbors warned me not to take my husband to the health center, claiming the doctors would make him sicker,” shares Elise*, whose husband later tested positive for the virus.
The reappearance of humanitarian actors has revived old suspicions. “Rumors circulate across every neighborhood,” notes Dr. Pablo Paluku Lwanzo, Butembo’s health zone medical chief. “Some outright deny the disease’s existence or accuse us of poisoning.”
Compounding the crisis is the specter of the so-called ‘Ebola business’—financial mismanagement and abuse, including gender-based violence, that marred previous outbreaks and continue to undermine the safety of frontline workers today.
virus spreads at unprecedented speed
By 13 July 2026, Butembo and Beni had recorded 122 and 31 confirmed cases, resulting in 77 and 20 deaths. “These figures likely underrepresent the true burden,” warns Hugo Soubrier, MSF epidemiologist in North Kivu. “Most patients arrive at health facilities in critical condition, explaining the high fatality rate. Nearly half of all infections stem from unidentified contacts.”
a new isolation center brings comfort to families
Denise’s younger sister was admitted to the new isolation ward in Butembo, opened by MSF in early July. Every day, Denise and her relatives can see her through a glass partition. “It gives me peace of mind,” she confides. “The isolation ward aims to halt transmission while allowing families to stay connected.”
To house the facility, MSF repurposed a building from Butembo’s general referral hospital, expanding its capacity to 35 beds.
putting communities at the heart of the response
With the virus now detected in Tshopo and Haut-Uélé provinces, MSF is prioritizing community-led strategies to restore trust and curb further spread. “Local leaders possess firsthand experience with Ebola and intimate knowledge of the terrain,” explains Margot Grelet, MSF project coordinator in Butembo. “Our role is to provide medical expertise, equipment, and treatments.”
Teams regularly engage community and religious leaders to tailor interventions. The goal: encourage early symptom reporting to maximize recovery chances.
community health workers bridge the information gap
In nearby Beni, 50 km from Butembo, teams are deploying the same participatory model. “We rely on village heads, opinion leaders, and civil society to deliver prevention messages,” says Delphine Ferry, health promotion manager.
Across Beni, 150 trained community health workers supported by MSF address families’ questions about the Bundibugyo strain and treatment protocols.
bringing care closer to patients and easing fears
This proximity-first approach is taking concrete form. In addition to a 26-bed treatment unit under construction near Beni’s referral hospital, MSF is providing direct support to two local health centers, offering free primary care.
Twelve observation rooms have been set up in Kanzulinzuli and Malepe health areas, with eleven more planned for Madrandele and Kasabinyole. These spaces allow for safe isolation and dignified care of suspected cases while maintaining essential visual and social contact with family members.
*Names have been changed to protect the anonymity of interviewees.
