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The family carried out the burial themselves – potentially exposing dozens more people to the virus.
The incident provides a stark glimpse into one of the biggest obstacles facing efforts to contain this latest deadly epidemic, which has infected 381 people and claimed 64 lives in Congo as of June 3.
For Marie Roseline BelizaireWorld Health Organization (WHO) Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response for Africa, the most challenging part is not always the virus itself – it can be meeting families who believe the disease is caused by witchcraft, persuading witch doctors to cooperate with health teams or health teams returning to communities that threaten them – just days before.
“We’re not trying to overcome their culture,” he said. “We try to involve science in their beliefs.”
Belizaire (center) in discussions with WHO officials and health partners. The agency is leading the UN response to the deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo.
Progress, but not yet under control
The outbreak was caused by a rare Bundibugyo strain Ebola The virus – for which there is no vaccine or treatment – continues to spread in eastern Congo while other cases have also been reported across the border in Uganda.
Talk to UN News from Bunia, in Ituri province, Dr. Belizaire said the response had made significant progress in recent weeks, especially in testing capacity.
At the start of the outbreak, the lab could process about 40 tests a day. That capacity has now been expanded to 800 daily tests, so suspected cases can be confirmed or ruled out more quickly.
“All the tests that we received, we almost launched on the same day,” he said. “The time to expect results has been reduced. Twenty-four, maximum 48 hours before you get the results.”
Community alerts are first investigated in the field, then alerts that meet the definition of an outbreak case are tested and confirmed or ruled out – so that suspected cases can be cleared from the system more quickly than at the start of the outbreak.
Stronger imprint
Contact tracing rates have increased from about 25 percent to 45 percent, but they are still far below the 90 to 95 percent coverage needed to effectively contain transmission.
“We still face many challenges,” he said, adding that the regional dimension of the outbreak remains a concern.
Uganda has recorded 15 confirmed cases and one probable case linked to the outbreak. One of the Congolese nationals also traveled through the United Arab Emirates before arriving in Uganda, highlighting how quickly infectious diseases can move across borders.
“When there is an outbreak and we have mobility, this is always a concern,” said Dr. Belizaire, however, emphasized that mechanisms such as the WHO mechanism International Health Regulations helps countries share information quickly and coordinate responses.
An aerial view of Mongbwalu, a town in Ituri province, where health teams are responding to an Ebola outbreak. The white building complex in the foreground is the field hospital.
Believe in public health
For the WHO team in the field, one of the most difficult tasks is building trust. Many communities in the affected areas have experienced conflict and insecurity for years. Cultural beliefs and misinformation can also shape how people interpret illness and death.
“The symptoms of the disease in the community are very similar to malaria,” explained Dr. Belizaire.
Some families attributed death to witchcraft or poisoning, rather than infection.
Therefore, health workers focus on coexistence rather than confrontation.
“We don’t stop them from believing in witchcraft, from believing in other things in their culture,” he said. “We just ask them to simultaneously believe in the existence of this disease.”
Ancient and modern
Traditional healers are also involved as partners and not excluded.
“We don’t forbid them from going to a shaman,” he said. “We asked [the healers]if you see someone with these symptoms, refer them to us as well.”
This approach reflects lessons learned from previous Ebola outbreaks, where distrust often proved as dangerous as the virus itself.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who recently visited the epicenter of the outbreak, warned that “misinformation is almost as dangerous as the virus itself, and is spreading rapidly.”
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (right) meets health workers who recovered from Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus after they were discharged from hospital in Bunia.
Reason to hope
Despite the difficulties, there are encouraging signs. Seven people have recovered from Ebola, including six health workers.
Most of them seek early treatment and receive intensive supportive care, including rehydration and treatment of symptoms while their immune systems fight the infection.
“They recovered because they went to the hospital early,” said Dr. Belizaire.
‘No country is facing Ebola alone’
WHO and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Friday launched a joint continental preparedness and response plan to combat the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak and strengthen preparedness across the continent.
The six-month plan aims to mobilize $518 million through a “One Response” approach. bringing together governments, UN agencies, humanitarian partners and communities.
This supports ongoing national response plans in Congo and Uganda while strengthening preparedness in neighboring countries at risk of cross-border transmission. The plan focuses on emergency coordination, clinical care, research, surveillance and testing, infection prevention and control, community engagement and logistics.
“The only way to defeat this outbreak is through close partnerships…no country is facing Ebola alone,said WHO Director General Tedros.
Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya highlighted the importance of this response, stating “Ebola is moving fast. Africa must move faster,he said.
Vaccine candidates are being developed
There is currently no licensed vaccine or approved treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, although vaccine candidates are being developed.
However, Dr. Belizaire emphasized that even a vaccine will not replace the need for early detection and treatment.
“The key is, as soon as you experience symptoms, go to a health center immediately,” he said.
The resolve of a survivor
Among the experiences that Dr. Belizaire is a health worker who contracted Ebola while treating a patient. The female medic later recovered.
Rather than leave the profession, he said he intends to continue serving others.
“He said he wouldn’t stop,” Dr. Belizaire. “He said he was born to provide care for others, and that’s what he will continue to do.”
This story reflects the resilience of health workers and the community in facing this outbreak every day.
Read more about epidemic here and about Ebola symptoms And prevention here.
