More than a month into DR Congo Ebola outbreak, doctors warn 'this epidemic will last'
Key takeaways
- While France confirmed its first case of Ebola, reports of people successfully treated for the condition are also emerging from Mongbwalu, the epicentre of the epidemic in the eastern part of the DRC.
- By: The FRANCE 24 Observers / M'mah BARTHELEMY BANGOURA Health workers carry out a so-called EDS, a “safe and dignified burial” of an Ebola victim in Bunia, in June 2026.
- The medical workers wear broad smiles – visible as they no longer have to wear masks – as they form a festive circle around a man, a woman and a child who have all obtained authorisation to leave the hospital.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
While France confirmed its first case of Ebola, reports of people successfully treated for the condition are also emerging from Mongbwalu, the epicentre of the epidemic in the eastern part of the DRC. Although successful treatments are sparking hope among teams on the ground, health professionals remain fearful about the continued progression of cases.
By: The FRANCE 24 Observers / M'mah BARTHELEMY BANGOURA Health workers carry out a so-called EDS, a “safe and dignified burial” of an Ebola victim in Bunia, in June 2026. © Bénédiction Murhabazi It was a rare moment of joy amidst the Ebola epidemic: Medical professionals broke into song and dance on June 16, 2026, to celebrate the successful treatment of three Ebola patients at the general hospital in Mongbwalu in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The medical workers wear broad smiles – visible as they no longer have to wear masks – as they form a festive circle around a man, a woman and a child who have all obtained authorisation to leave the hospital.