“Some still doubt that Ebola exists”: public trust remains key to combating the outbreak in DR Congo

June 16, 2026 Health injury

Since the announcement of the outbreak on May 15 in the country, it has been possible to significantlyexpand testing capabilitiesRegarding the virus strain Bundibugyo, the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tarik Jasarevic stated at a briefing in Geneva.

Today, diagnostics are already available at six points across the country, including the cities of Bunia and Mongbwalu in the Ituri province, Bukavu and Lwiro in South Kivu, Goma in North Kivu, as well as the capital Kinshasa. Four more laboratories have been set up in neighboring Uganda, where imported cases of disease have been recorded.

Blind zones

Despite the progress achieved, specialists warn that the situation remains complex.

“There are still areas from which very little information is received,” Yasarevich noted. “This means that some chains of virus transmission may remain unnoticed. There are people who continue to pose a risk of infection to others, and we need to identify them.”

According to the head of operations of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for the Ebola outbreak response, Bruno Misonne, curbing the epidemic requires investments not only in medical assistance but also inwork with the population. According to him, this requires time and greater effort.

“However, under the current outbreak conditions, this is not a matter of choice. This is a matter of saving lives,” Mishon emphasized.

Distrust and fear

Speaking from Buny – the epicenter of the outbreak, a representative of MFCC said that many residents still distrust information about the disease.

“Some people still doubt that this disease actually exists,” he said. According to him, part of the population believes that the outbreak was “fabricated” to attract international aid.

Moreover, the measures for the safe and dignified burial of those who died from Ebola are perceived by some as an encroachment on local traditions and cultural customs.

Skepticism, fear, and distrust of external structures seriously complicate the fight against disease in the eastern regions of the DRC, where many have suffered for years from armed conflicts.

In the early days of the outbreak in the region, two Ebola treatment centers were set on fire. According to WHO data, these attacks were associated with the spread of disinformation on social networks.

“When people experience fever, they may hide the symptoms of the disease, avoid seeking medical care, and stay at home, even if they have a high temperature,” noted Mishon.

According to him, many patients are reluctant to inform their relatives about their condition due to the stigma associated with Ebola.

“Families try to bury their loved ones in accordance with traditional rites, not realizing the level of risk,” he added.

Trust saves lives

Humanitarian organizations try to take into account the concerns of local residents and adapt their work to the cultural characteristics of the communities.

“After consulting with the population, we began using special bags for transporting bodies with a transparent window, so that relatives could see the face of the deceased and start the farewell process,” said the representative of the IFRC.

When residents expressed fears that chlorine-based disinfectant solutions were being used to poison people, specialists did not engage in arguments but clearly demonstrated how these agents are prepared and used.

“Without trust, we will not be able to promptly detect cases of illness, ensure safe and decent care, and protect families from infection,” emphasized Mishon.

“Trust is not a secondary element in the response to the Ebola outbreak. Trust is at the very center of all this work,” he concluded.