Armed Men Abduct Six-Year-Old Ebola Patient from DR Congo Hospital

Health authorities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are searching for a six-year-old Ebola patient and her mother after armed men stormed a hospital and removed them from treatment.

The incident occurred at Wanamahika Hospital in the city of Butembo, where the child was receiving care for Ebola.

According to local health official Dr Lubambo Maboko Gaston, a group of “very angry” men armed with knives entered the facility and took the girl away alongside her mother.

Authorities have not established whether the men were relatives or known associates of the family.

Health officials have appealed for the immediate return of both mother and child, warning that their absence from medical supervision poses serious risks to their health and to public safety.

In comments to Reuters, Dr Gaston urged the pair to report to a health facility as soon as possible.

“They risk worsening their health and infecting their relatives,” he warned.

The incident has reignited concerns about public mistrust of Ebola treatment centres, a recurring challenge throughout the current outbreak.

Medical facilities involved in Ebola response efforts have repeatedly faced hostility from communities sceptical about the disease or suspicious of health workers.

Last month, police in Mongbwalu were forced to fire warning shots after crowds attempted to seize the bodies of deceased patients from a treatment centre.

In another incident, residents set fire to isolation tents at a hospital in Rwampara after being prevented from taking away the body of a suspected Ebola victim.

Health experts warn that Ebola victims remain highly infectious after death, making uncontrolled burials a significant source of transmission.

Community resistance has complicated containment efforts during the latest outbreak, which has so far resulted in nearly 200 deaths and more than 840 confirmed infections.

The outbreak has been linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccine currently exists.

The World Health Organisation has warned that developing and deploying an effective vaccine could take several months.

Cases have been concentrated in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, with Ituri remaining the main centre of transmission.

The WHO has also highlighted the impact of insecurity in eastern Congo, where ongoing conflict involving armed groups, including the M23 rebellion, continues to hinder access to affected communities and complicate public health operations.

Officials say locating the missing child remains an urgent priority as authorities work to prevent further transmission of the deadly virus.