In Bunia, located in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, significant progress has been reported in the battle against a rare form of Ebola. The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced on Sunday that five patients have recovered from this strain. This revelation came during the opening of a new Ebola treatment center in Bunia, the capital city of the Ituri province.
“Today, four individuals will be discharged, following another who was discharged earlier,” Ghebreyesus stated. His comments highlighted ongoing efforts to develop vaccines and treatments while acknowledging current recoveries.
The WHO noted last Friday that a patient had recovered from the Bundibugyo virus, the specific Ebola strain in the current outbreak, which lacks approved treatments or vaccines. This marked the first documented recovery from the Bundibugyo variant. Recent statistics indicate 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths. Neighboring Uganda confirmed nine cases and one death, as reported by its Ministry of Health.
Challenges persist as the virus spreads more rapidly than containment efforts, despite improved health facilities and newly arrived aid. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has called for expanded diagnostic testing, a quicker deployment of humanitarian workers, and consistent medical supply access. Health workers face increased danger due to local resistance to strict medical protocols for handling victims’ bodies, conflicting with local burial rites. Residents have attacked health centers at least three times.
Ghebreyesus emphasized community involvement in responding to the outbreak at the treatment center’s inauguration. “Seeking medical help at the onset of symptoms is crucial. Early intervention can lead to recovery,” he explained. “We can halt this Ebola outbreak, and recovery is possible. Responsibility lies with every individual to engage,” he added.
Efforts are further complicated by attacks in Ituri by the Allied Democratic Forces, a group connected with the Islamic State, and various ethnic militias. Ebola cases have emerged in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, south of Ituri, where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group controls major cities like Goma and Bukavu, reporting two cases.
“We wish to convey hope to the Ituri community,” said Pierre Akilimali, incident manager at Congo’s National Institute of Public Health. “We observe patient recovery with symptomatic treatment,” he noted at the Sunday event. Dr. Davin Ambitapio, another staff member at the treatment center, expressed optimism: “We are hopeful. The virus here is less challenging than past strains. With support from partners, we aim to control this outbreak swiftly.”
——Report by Banchereau from Dakar, Senegal.
This article was translated from English by an AP editor using an AI-assisted tool.
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