Inside MSF’s ebola treatment centres in drc as outbreak intensifies
Several weeks into the Ebola outbreak affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has stepped up its efforts to contain the virus. Our teams provide a rare look inside their treatment centres in Goma and Bunia, in Ituri province—the epicentre of the outbreak—as they mobilise to respond to this seventeenth epidemic.
Epidemiological toll continues to climb
With screening capacity increased in late May, the DRC Ministry of Health updated its data. As of 4 June 2026, the official toll from the INRB in the Democratic Republic of the Congo stands at:
- 381 confirmed cases;
- 64 confirmed deaths;
- 233 suspected patients currently placed in isolation.
In Uganda, the situation remains under surveillance with 19 reported cases and one death as of 5 June.
MSF opens and rehabilitates Ebola treatment centres
To combat the spread of the Bundibugyo virus and break transmission chains, MSF teams are adapting their response in the hardest-hit areas.
In Bunia: a centre expanding as patient numbers surge
In Bunia, the centre is facing overcrowding. On 5 June, the centre housed 37 suspected patients and 7 confirmed cases. To mitigate the risk of spread, the facility is being expanded. “We are preparing a new plot and will double our capacity to 70 beds within days,” explains Anthony Kergosien, emergency coordinator in Bunia. If needed, the centre can increase its capacity to 100 beds.
In Goma: rehabilitation of a historic centre
In Goma, MSF has reopened a dedicated treatment centre to isolate suspected cases and treat confirmed patients. The first admissions took place on 28 May.
“This centre was used during previous outbreaks. The teams start by talking with patients, reassuring them about what will happen, explaining the care, the average length of stay, and the samples to be taken,” says Tathy Modjaka Nzoko, MSF medical activities manager in Goma.
Caregiver safety and community trust: pillars of the response
Protecting healthcare workers from the virus
Medical staff are equipped with personal protective gear to ensure effective protection against the Bundibugyo virus. The infectious dose for this virus is very low. “Just a few viral particles in the wrong place, like the eyes or mouth, can trigger the disease.”
The protective equipment aims to keep the Ebola virus away from the skin. “It must be waterproof because the virus is transmitted through bodily fluids. This is especially important because we don’t have the vaccines and treatments we usually have,” says Armand Sprecher, emergency physician and epidemiologist for MSF.
Building trust with local communities
For patients to agree to isolate quickly, explanation and awareness-raising are essential.
“Trust between MSF and the local population is crucial. People usually care for their families at home. But we need them to come to a treatment centre immediately. The fact that our gear makes us look like people from another planet may make them reluctant. So we explain why we wear this equipment, and that many of those wearing it are people they know,” according to Armand Sprecher.
Transferring skills and training teams
To ensure a large-scale response, MSF relies on sharing expertise. Specific training is provided at a centre in Belgium before teams depart for the field.
“With every Ebola epidemic, knowledge transfer is a key part of the response. There are people within MSF with vast experience in outbreak response. So we send people who know what they are doing into the field, or who can train others,” says Armand Sprecher.
Donate to the MSF Emergency Fund.
Understanding the Bundibugyo virus: what makes this outbreak different
Unlike previous outbreaks in DRC, this epidemic is caused by the Bundibugyo virus (belonging to the orthoebolavirus family, which also includes the Zaire and Sudan viruses).
Although the case fatality rate of the Bundibugyo virus is lower than that of classic Ebola (ranging between 25% and 40%), the medical response faces a major challenge: there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for this specific virus.
MSF’s humanitarian action continues across the country
Hundreds of MSF professionals remain deployed in the affected areas of Ituri and North Kivu, while new care capacities are being organised in South Kivu. Each week, several tonnes of medical and logistical supplies continue to arrive in DRC from our international centres to support the intervention.
