Five patients have recovered from a rare type of Ebola virus in eastern Congo, the head of the World Health Organization announced on Sunday during a visit to Bunia, the capital of Ituri province. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that four individuals were discharged on Sunday, following one patient who had left care two days prior.
The recovered patients had been infected with the Bundibugyo virus, a strain of Ebola that currently has no approved treatment or vaccine. Speaking at the inauguration of a new Ebola treatment centre in Bunia, Tedros remarked, “Of course, we’re still working on vaccines and treatments but that doesn’t mean that people cannot recover from Ebola.”
Among those who recovered, Baraka Bulambulu described how community members feared contracting an unknown illness, keeping their distance while delivering food and medicine. He said the uncertainty was overwhelming, but being able to come out of it alive was an immense source of happiness. Nurse Ezo Étienne, who also recovered, said his symptoms began with dizziness and rapidly deteriorated into vomiting, itching, diarrhoea, and weakness. His treatment was purely symptomatic – medications to control vomiting, fluids, and pain relief – as no specific therapies were available.
The response continues to face challenges. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said the virus is spreading faster than the response, and called for immediate expansion of testing and faster deployment of aid workers. Attacks by residents angered over medical protocols for handling victims’ bodies have targeted health centres at least three times. Additionally, violence from the Allied Democratic Forces and other armed groups has hindered the response, with seven people killed in Beni on Saturday.
Tedros stressed the importance of community involvement, urging people to come forward early for support. “We can stop this Ebola and anyone who has it can also recover,” he said. Health authorities have reported 134 confirmed cases in Congo and neighbouring Uganda, including 18 confirmed deaths as of May 29. Despite the challenges, local doctors expressed hope. Pierre Akilimali from Congo’s National Institute of Public Health said, “With the symptomatic treatment that we are currently providing, we are seeing patients recover.”
Davin Ambitapio, another doctor at the treatment 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.”
