Missing Ebola-Infected Girl Found Alive After Armed Men Storm DR Congo Hospital

A six-year-old Ebola patient who was taken from a hospital in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by armed men has been found and is responding well to treatment, health authorities have confirmed.

The child, whose disappearance sparked concerns among health officials battling a growing Ebola outbreak, was located on Friday at an Ebola treatment centre about 18 kilometres from the city of Butembo, where she had originally been receiving care.

Dr Lubambo Maboko Gaston, a local health official, said the girl and her mother arrived at the treatment facility after being missing for several days.

“Her condition is currently considered stable,” Gaston said.

The child was reportedly taken from a hospital in Butembo on Monday after a group of men described by officials as “very angry” stormed the facility and removed her and her mother.

Authorities have not disclosed whether the men were relatives of the child or connected to the family.

The incident highlights the growing challenge facing health workers in eastern Congo, where mistrust, misinformation and fear continue to undermine efforts to contain the outbreak.

Health facilities treating Ebola patients have repeatedly come under attack during the current outbreak, which has so far recorded more than 890 confirmed cases and over 230 deaths.

Last month, police in the town of Mongbwalu fired warning shots after crowds attempted to seize the bodies of relatives who had died in a health facility. In another incident, residents set fire to isolation tents at a hospital in Rwampara after authorities prevented them from taking away the body of a suspected Ebola victim.

Public health experts warn that the bodies of Ebola victims remain highly infectious and can accelerate the spread of the virus if burial procedures are not handled safely.

Local leaders say misinformation remains a major obstacle.

“People are not properly informed or sensitised about what is happening,” local politician Luc Malembe said recently.

“For some communities, especially in remote areas, Ebola is seen as an invention by outsiders. They believe hospitals and aid organisations are creating the crisis to make money.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also expressed concern about the pace of the outbreak.

WHO Africa emergencies chief Marie-Roseline Belizaire described the situation as “serious,” noting that the outbreak continues to evolve rapidly despite improvements in the response effort.

According to the WHO, at least 75 healthcare workers have contracted the virus during the outbreak, with 17 deaths recorded among medical personnel.

The outbreak, officially declared on May 15, is being driven by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine. Health authorities have warned that developing an effective vaccine could take several months.

The outbreak has already spread beyond DR Congo's borders, with neighbouring Uganda reporting 19 confirmed infections and two deaths. However, Ugandan authorities have not recorded a new case since June 5.

In DR Congo, health officials have expanded surveillance, contact tracing and treatment operations across affected areas, with the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu bearing the heaviest burden of infections.

Ituri remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for more than 90 per cent of confirmed cases.

International agencies have increased funding for containment efforts, with the WHO committing $3.9 million and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention allocating $319 million to support response operations.

Health officials warn that ongoing insecurity in eastern Congo, where armed groups including the M23 rebels control significant territory, continues to complicate efforts to contain the disease and protect vulnerable communities.

AFP