The World Health Organization has reported that five patients have recovered from a rare type of Ebola in eastern Congo, with its chief expressing optimism during the opening of a new treatment centre in Bunia.
Recoveries Announced in Bunia
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the recoveries on Sunday during a visit to Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, which is at the epicentre of the outbreak. “Four people will be discharged today and there was one that was discharged the day before yesterday,” he stated at the inauguration of a new Ebola treatment facility. He emphasised that while vaccines and treatments are still under development, recovery from Ebola is possible with proper care.
First Documented Recovery from Bundibugyo Virus
The WHO had earlier announced on Friday that a patient had recovered from the Bundibugyo virus, the strain responsible for the current outbreak, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment. This marked the first documented recovery of a confirmed Bundibugyo patient in this outbreak.
According to the latest official figures, there have been 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths. In neighbouring Uganda, the Health Ministry reported nine confirmed cases and one death as of Friday.
Challenges to the Response
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) noted on Saturday that the virus is spreading faster than the response, despite improved health facilities and new aid. The organisation called for expanded testing, faster deployment of aid workers, and sustained access to medical supplies. Health workers face additional dangers due to community anger over strict protocols for handling victims' bodies, which conflict with local burial customs. At least three attacks on health centres have been reported.
Rebel activity has further hindered the response. Attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces, linked to the Islamic State group, and ethnic militias in Ituri have complicated efforts. Cases have also emerged in North Kivu and South Kivu, where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group controls key cities like Goma and Bukavu, reporting two cases.
Community Involvement and Hope
Tedros stressed the importance of community engagement during the outbreak response. “If you come to health facilities when you have symptoms, you can get the support and recover, so the key is to come forward as early as possible,” he said. “We can stop this Ebola and anyone who has it can also recover. But the rule ... is this thing is everybody’s business and every citizen should be involved.”
Pierre Akilimali, Incident Manager at Congo's National Institute of Public Health, expressed hope during the inauguration. “With the symptomatic treatment that we are currently providing, we are seeing patients recover,” he said. Davin Ambitapio, another doctor at the centre, added, “We truly have hope. The virus here is not as complicated as those we have dealt with in the past, and with the support of all our partners, we believe we will be able to bring this outbreak under control as quickly as possible.”
