DR Congo Discharges 49-Year-Old Ebola Survivor as Bundibugyo Outbreak Kills More Than 140
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 15
DR Congo Discharges 49-Year-Old Ebola Survivor as Bundibugyo Outbreak Kills More Than 140
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 15
Summary
Two negative tests cleared Daniel Kitambala to leave an Ebola treatment centre in Mongbwalu after about three weeks, making him the second known patient discharged in Ituri province.
His recovery is helping counter fear around the rare Bundibugyo strain, which has killed more than 140 people and may have spread for months before the outbreak was declared just over a month ago.
Doctors said survivor discharges are drawing more patients in for care after myths such as a local "coffin curse" and attacks on treatment centres fueled distrust; one Mongbwalu unit was burned on 21 May.
A new laboratory in Mongbwalu now returns Ebola results within a day instead of more than a week, but officials say missed contact tracing still threatens efforts to contain the outbreak.
Despite inspiring recoveries, why do deadly attacks on Ebola clinics continue to threaten the entire response effort?
As a rare Ebola strain spreads, can a new vaccine be developed in time to prevent a wider catastrophe?
With war making contact tracing nearly impossible, is containing Congo's deadly Ebola outbreak an achievable goal?
Bundibugyo Ebola Virus 2026: 19 Cases, 2 Deaths, and the Struggle for Vaccines, Treatments, and Trust
Overview
As of late May and early June 2026, the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak remains a major public health concern, mainly impacting Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases and two deaths, with most cases found in Kampala and some linked to local transmission while others were imported. The DRC is facing its third Bundibugyo outbreak, highlighting ongoing regional challenges. The situation is complicated by the lack of approved vaccines or treatments, making early detection, supportive care, and strong community engagement essential for controlling the spread and saving lives.