Scenes of joy marked the Ebola treatment center in Mongbwalu, in Ituri province, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. On October 28, 2026, the medical teams of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and community members celebrated the discharge of the last patients treated at the facility. A first since the resurgence of the epidemic last May.
In a video released by MSF and shared on social media, caregivers and residents appear singing and dancing in front of the center. These images reflect the teams’ relief after several months of mobilization against a particularly feared disease.
According to the humanitarian organization, no confirmed Ebola case remains in treatment at the facility. This milestone is an encouraging result for the health professionals who provided care to patients in a difficult epidemic context.
The satisfaction is all the greater because the epidemic had been officially declared on May 15, 2026 by the Congolese health authorities. It is the seventeenth Ebola outbreak recorded in the DRC. It is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a strain distinct from the one responsible for several previous epidemics in the country.
A LOCAL VICTORY, BUT AN EPIDEMIC STILL ACTIVE
While the situation in Mongbwalu represents an important step forward, it does not mean the end of the epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The virus continues to circulate in several health zones, requiring the maintenance of surveillance, prevention and care measures.
On October 27, the Congolese health authorities also announced that the toll of this outbreak had exceeded 10,000 confirmed cases at the African level, with a very high concentration of infections in the DRC.
Difficulties in accessing certain areas, insecurity and the mistrust of some communities are among the obstacles faced by those involved in the response.
The discharge of the last patients from the Mongbwalu center nevertheless constitutes an encouraging signal. It recalls the importance of the work of medical teams and community engagement in the fight against epidemics.
For the caregivers of Mongbwalu, this celebration above all marks a moment of respite after months of struggle. But vigilance remains essential.
Héritier Maila /MSF
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