Adapting care to an evolving Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | WHO

Bunia—When Dr Patrick Oparpio, a gynaecologist in Bunia, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, began to experience symptoms like those of Ebola disease, he never imagined he would become a patient himself. Initially thinking he had another illness, such as malaria or typhoid fever, he treated himself at home for several days. As diarrhoea, vomiting and significant weight loss set in, he finally went to an Ebola Treatment Centre, where he tested positive for Ebola disease. 

Like many patients, he arrived at the centre late in the course of his illness. “I was very weak when I arrived at the treatment centre. The teams took care of me immediately. They treated me, encouraged me, and supported me, both medically and psychologically. That’s what helped me keep hope alive,” says Dr Oparpio, who has since been cured of Ebola. 

His story illustrates the importance of rapid, high-quality care, as well as the efforts made every day by health teams to tackle an outbreak that continues to spread. 

As the number of patients increases, care teams are constantly adapting their operations to continue providing quality care despite the growing pressure on treatment facilities. As of 1 September 2026, Ituri had 25 care facilities, including 15 Ebola treatment centres and 10 transit centres, spread across 19 health zones and offering a total capacity of 974 beds.  

In total, 59 facilities were identified in the affected provinces, with a total capacity of 1346 beds. This represents a significant increase compared to the start of the response on 19 May 2026—four days after the outbreak was declared—when only one 9-bed treatment centre was operational. More than 4,000 additional health professionals were also deployed to reinforce the care teams. 

“Our priority is to ensure that every patient receives quality care, even as the number of cases rises,” explains Dr Marta Lado, head of the case management pillar at the WHO. “We must increase the number of operational beds for suspected and confirmed cases so that we can respond to every alert we receive, while constantly ensuring that patients’ needs are fully met and Ebola-related complications are managed according to the highest possible standards of care.” 

Thanks to support from partners—the Global Fund, UNCERF, ECHO, The African Development Bank, and the Governments of United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland —the Ebola treatment facilities have received medication and up to date equipment that are helping to improve the quality of care. With the outbreak constantly evolving, teams are continually reorganizing spaces, restocking medical supplies and equipment, increasing staffing levels and adapting protocols so that every patient can receive prompt, safe and dignified care, both in Ebola treatment centres and in other health facilities. 

“Previously, within the hospital, confirmed and suspected patients, as well as regular patients, shared the same common areas, even the latrines. This was a source of stress for us. The creation of the Ebola treatment centre put an end to this risky coexistence,” explains Dr Charles Mashindi Makuta, centre coordinator for the Nyankunde health zone. 

“The centre allows us to better organize patient flow and the work of the health teams. For us, this greatly facilitates the day-to-day care of patients.” 

This adaptation extends far beyond the daily work of the care teams. It also translates into a gradual strengthening of care capacities to meet the ever-growing needs on the ground. 

“At the start of the response, there were only isolation facilities. Since then, care capacity has been significantly expanded. We continue to adapt these capacities by increasing the number of beds and strengthening the teams to respond to the evolving epidemic,” emphasizes Dr Josaphat Sikoti, national chair of holistic care at the Ministry of Health. 

Despite these adjustments, the needs remain considerable. While the overall bed occupancy rate in Ituri Province currently stands at around 62%, some treatment centres—particularly in Bunia—are under much greater strain, with occupancy rates reaching 90‒100%. This situation requires maintaining and adapting operational capacity, with sufficient beds, qualified staff, biomedical supplies and resuscitation equipment to respond to the evolving epidemic. 

Over the next three months, more than 6200 additional staff members, as well as thousands of pieces of resuscitation equipment for 2071 additional operational beds, will be needed to meet the demand. 

To maintain speed, safety, dignity and quality of care, additional investments remain essential. They will make it possible to increase patient capacity, strengthen medical teams and provide the equipment essential to the response. 

Dr Oparpio was discharged from the treatment centre after 20 days, fully recovered. Confirmed cases who arrive early enough can generally be discharged after about 10 days, or even after 5‒7 days if they are treated at a very early stage of the infection.   

“I was very lucky to make it out alive because it took me a while to get to the treatment centre. I advise anyone with symptoms to go to the treatment centre right away. The earlier treatment begins, the greater the chances of recovery,” he emphasizes. “Don’t be afraid to come to the centre to get treated.”