Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have marked a significant milestone after five Ebola patients recovered from the disease and were allowed to leave hospital.
The latest outbreak is suspected to have claimed nearly 250 lives, but officials say the recoveries demonstrate that infected patients can survive if they receive timely medical attention. Authorities continue to encourage anyone experiencing symptoms to seek treatment quickly.
On Sunday, a ceremony was held in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province and the centre of the outbreak, to celebrate the recovery of four nurses who had successfully completed treatment.
Addressing the recovered health workers during a visit to Bunia, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said their recovery showed that the outbreak could be brought under control.
One of the nurses, Etienne Ezo, described the emotional toll of the illness, saying he and others had at one point believed they would not survive.
The first Ebola survivor in the current outbreak, a laboratory worker, was discharged from hospital last week.
Healthcare workers remain among those most exposed to the virus because of their role in treating infected patients.
Speaking during the ceremony, Tedros paid tribute to health workers who lost their lives while caring for others and praised the recovered nurses for returning to service despite the risks associated with the profession.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Institute of Public Health described the recoveries as evidence that measures such as early detection, medical treatment, contact tracing and community involvement were making a difference.
Its director, Mwamba Kazadi, said the recoveries were a victory worth celebrating and highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and proper care.
Tedros also urged communities to cooperate with health officials after reports that some residents had attacked health centres because of strict Ebola burial protocols.
Under Ebola control measures, relatives are not allowed to handle the bodies of people suspected of dying from the disease, a restriction that has clashed with local customs and traditions.
In a joint statement issued with the Congolese government, the WHO stressed that local communities remained central to efforts to stop the outbreak and said success depended on public trust and participation.
The statement identified several ongoing challenges, including early detection and isolation of cases, contact tracing, safe burials, infection prevention in healthcare facilities and improving public awareness.
Authorities also urged residents to maintain protective behaviours such as regular handwashing, seeking treatment early and sharing accurate health information.
More than 1,000 suspected Ebola cases have now been recorded in DR Congo, with at least 246 deaths linked to the outbreak.
Neighbouring Uganda has reported nine confirmed cases and one death.
Despite the outbreak, daily life continues in some affected areas. Schools and markets in Bunia remain open as residents go about their normal activities.
The current outbreak, the 17th recorded in DR Congo, is being caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine, although research is ongoing.
Most cases have been reported in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, while some infections have also been recorded in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
Health authorities outside Africa are also monitoring possible cases. Officials in Brazil said they were investigating two suspected Ebola infections in São Paulo state.
Meanwhile, demonstrations have broken out in the Kenyan town of Nanyuki over plans by the United States to establish an Ebola quarantine facility for American citizens at a local air base.
Protesters expressed concerns that the proposed facility could expose local communities to the virus, despite Kenya recording no Ebola cases.
Last week, a Kenyan court suspended the project while concerns about public safety are reviewed.
Ojo Triumph
