Misinformation and the shadow of “Ebola business” fuel distrust

The 17th Ebola outbreak in DRC unfolds against a backdrop of deep-seated insecurity, where fear and false narratives thrive. In Butembo and Beni, communities in North Kivu still bear the scars of the 2018-2020 epidemic. The loss of loved ones, limited access to information, and the ban on hospital visits during illness have left lasting scars, eroding confidence in medical responses.

In 2019, tensions escalated to the point of partially burning down a treatment center, forcing MSF to temporarily halt operations in the area.

« Some advised me not to go to the health center, claiming doctors would make my husband sick », shares Elise*, who is caring for her husband after his positive test.

In a region where humanitarian aid is scarce, the return of medical teams stirs old fears. « Rumors spread like wildfire through every community », notes Dr. Pablo Paluku Lwanzo, Butembo’s health zone medical chief. « Some outright deny the disease exists or accuse us of poisoning. »

Compounding these challenges is the lingering memory of the so-called “Ebola business” from past crises, marked by financial abuses and even gender-based violence. These past missteps continue to undermine the safety of humanitarian workers on the ground.

Virus spreads at unprecedented speed

By July 13, 2026, Butembo had recorded 122 confirmed cases and 77 deaths, while Beni reported 31 cases and 20 deaths. « These figures likely underrepresent the true scale », warns Hugo Soubrier, MSF epidemiologist in North Kivu.

« Patients often arrive at advanced stages, which explains the high mortality rate. Nearly half of those infected had contact with unidentified cases. »

New isolation center offers families a lifeline

Denise’s sister was admitted to the new isolation center in Butembo, opened by MSF in early July. Each day, Denise and her family can visit through a glass partition. « It reassures me to see her », she shares.

« The isolation strategy balances disease containment with family connection, allowing loved ones to support patients while keeping everyone safe », explains Delmas Kalemba, MSF’s logistics coordinator. In Butembo, teams repurposed a building from the general referral hospital into a 35-bed Ebola Treatment Center.

Putting communities at the heart of the response

To curb the virus’s advance—now detected in Tshopo and Haut-Uélé provinces—MSF is placing communities at the center of its strategy. « Local residents have firsthand experience with Ebola and intimate knowledge of the terrain », says Margot Grelet, Butembo project coordinator. « Our role is to provide medical expertise, supplies, and treatments. »

Teams regularly engage community and religious leaders to tailor interventions. The goal: encourage early medical consultation to improve survival chances.

Community volunteers bridge the information gap

In Beni, 50 km from Butembo, the same participatory approach is in action. « We rely on group leaders, opinion shapers, and civil society to spread prevention messages », says Delphine Ferry, health promotion coordinator.

On the ground, 150 community volunteers trained by MSF address families’ practical questions about Bundibugyo virus and treatment centers.

Bringing care closer to patients and easing fears

This commitment to proximity is reflected in concrete actions. Alongside a 26-bed care center under construction near Beni’s referral hospital, MSF supports two local health centers by offering free primary care.

Twelve observation rooms have been set up in Kanzulinzuli and Malepe health areas, with eleven more under construction in Madrandele and Kasabinyole. These spaces allow dignified isolation and care for suspected cases while maintaining essential visual and social contact with loved ones.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those interviewed.