DRC Ebola Outbreak Reaches One Month Mark with 1,000 Confirmed Cases

Medical teams in Mongbwalu celebrated the discharge of three patients on June 16, including the hospital accountant who contracted the virus while handling bodies. Fourteen patients have now recovered at the general hospital there.

Staff at the Mongbwalu facility can now test samples on site after equipment from the National Institute of Biomedical Research arrived on June 3. Earlier, results took up to two weeks when samples were sent to Bunia or Kinshasa. Humanitarian groups including Médecins sans Frontières have established treatment centers that allow family visits from outside, a change from the fully enclosed units used in 2014.

An epidemiologist with Médecins sans Frontières said contact tracing has reached only 40 percent of identified exposures and needs to reach 90 to 95 percent to control spread. Some deaths in recent weeks have not been tested, leaving uncertainty over whether malaria or other infections were involved.

Local activist Miel Kaghulalo reported community suspicion that Ebola messaging may be linked to organ trafficking, leading some residents to chase medical teams with sharp objects. Attacks occurred at treatment centers in Rwampara and Mongbwalu in early June.

Recovered patients are being asked to speak in their communities to counter distrust.