Behind the scenes at MSF’s Ebola treatment centres in DRC

Several weeks after the start of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is stepping up its efforts to contain the virus. Today, our teams take you inside their treatment centres in Goma and Bunia in Ituri, the epicentre of the outbreak, as they mobilise to tackle this seventeenth epidemic.

Epidemiological toll continues to rise

With increased screening capacity at the end of May, the DRC Ministry of Health updated its data. As of 4 June 2026, the official tally from the INRB in the Democratic Republic of Congo stands at:

• 381 confirmed cases;
• 64 confirmed deaths;
• 233 suspected patients currently in isolation.

In Uganda, the situation remains under surveillance with 19 reported cases and one death as of 5 June.

MSF opens and refurbishes Ebola treatment centres

To combat the spread of the Bundibugyo virus and break the chain of transmission, MSF teams are adapting their response in the hardest-hit areas.

In Bunia: a centre expanding to cope with patient influx

In Bunia, the centre is struggling with congestion. On 5 June, the centre had 37 suspected patients and 7 confirmed. Faced with the risk of spread, the centre is being enlarged. “We are clearing 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 capacity up 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 begin by talking to patients, trying to reassure them about what will happen, explaining the care, the average length of stay, and the samples that will be taken,” says Tathy Modjaka Nzoko, MSF medical activities manager in Goma.

Protecting healthcare workers and building community trust: key pillars of the response

Protecting healthcare workers against the virus

Medical staff are equipped with personal protective equipment to ensure effective protection against the Bundibugyo virus. Indeed, the infectious dose of this virus is very low. “Just a few viral particles in the wrong place, like the eyes or mouth, can trigger the disease.” The main purpose of the protective equipment is to keep the Ebola virus off the skin. “For that, it must be waterproof, because the virus arrives through bodily fluids. This is particularly important because we don’t have the vaccines and treatments we usually have,” testifies Armand Sprecher, emergency physician and epidemiologist for MSF.

Building trust with local communities

To get patients to isolate quickly, explanation and awareness work is essential. “Trust between MSF and the local population is important. People generally take care of their family at home. But we need them to go immediately to a treatment centre. The fact that with the equipment we look like people from another planet can make them reluctant. So we explain why we wear this equipment, and that many of the people wearing these suits are people they know,” according to Armand Sprecher.

Transferring skills and training teams

To ensure a large-scale response, MSF focuses on sharing expertise. Specific training is provided at a centre in Belgium before teams leave for the field. “In every Ebola outbreak, knowledge transfer is an important part of the response. There are people within MSF who have a lot of experience in outbreak response. So we send these people who know what they are doing to the field, or they can train others,” says Armand Sprecher.

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Understanding the Bundibugyo virus: specifics of this epidemic

Unlike previous waves in DRC, this outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus (belonging to the orthoebolavirus family, which also includes the Zaire and Sudan viruses). Although the fatality rate of the Bundibugyo virus is lower than that of the classic Ebola virus (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 equipment continue to arrive in DRC from our international hubs to support the intervention.