restoring public trust amid the Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC

combating misinformation and the stigma of ‘Ebola profiteering’

The 17th Ebola outbreak has emerged against a backdrop of persistent insecurity, fueling widespread distrust and dangerous misinformation. In Butembo and Beni—cities in North Kivu on the country’s eastern edge—residents carry deep scars from the 2018–2020 epidemic. Grief over lost loved ones, scant access to transparent information, and the enforced separation of patients from their families have left many skeptical of medical interventions. In 2019, simmering resentment erupted into an attack on an Ebola treatment center (ETC), forcing a temporary suspension of activities by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the area.

“People warned us not to go to the health center, claiming doctors would make my husband sick,” shares Elise*, who is caring for her husband after he tested positive. Rumors have seeped into every neighborhood, “poisoning minds with falsehoods,” notes Dr. Pablo Paluku Lwanzo, Butembo’s health zone medical chief. “Some still deny the disease exists or accuse us of poisoning.”

Toxic narratives are compounded by memories of the infamous ‘Ebola business’—financial exploitation and abuse documented during past crises, including gender-based violence. These past abuses continue to undermine the safety of humanitarian workers on the ground today.

the virus advances at an alarming pace

By 13 July 2026, confirmed cases in Butembo and Beni had reached 122 and 31 respectively, with 77 and 20 deaths. “These numbers likely understate the true toll,” warns Hugo Soubrier, MSF epidemiologist in North Kivu. “Patients often arrive at advanced stages, driving up mortality. Nearly half of those infected had contact with unidentified cases.”

a 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. Every day, Denise and other relatives can observe her through a window. “It gives me peace of mind to see her,” she says. To curb transmission while respecting human dignity, MSF teams repurposed a building at Butembo’s general referral hospital into a 35-bed ETC, complete with transparent barriers for safe visits.

Engaging communities at the heart of the response has become central to the strategy. “Local residents hold the lived experience of Ebola and intimate knowledge of the terrain,” explains Margot Grelet, MSF project coordinator in Butembo. “Our role is to provide medical expertise, supplies, and treatments.” Regular consultations with community and religious leaders help tailor interventions. The goal: encourage early care-seeking to boost survival odds.

community champions drive prevention in Beni

Fifty kilometers south in Beni, the same participatory approach is taking root. “We rely on village chiefs, opinion leaders, and civil society to spread prevention messages,” says Delphine Ferry, MSF health promotion manager. On the ground, 150 trained community relays answer families’ pressing questions about the Bundibugyo strain and treatment protocols.

bringing care closer and easing patients’ fears

This commitment to proximity has led to tangible operational shifts. In addition to a 26-bed facility nearing completion 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, with eleven more under construction in Madrandele and Kasabinyole. These spaces safely isolate suspected cases while preserving visual and social bonds with loved ones.*Names have been changed to protect identities.