Joy amid death: BBC visits epicentre of Ebola outbreak in DR Congo

Celebrating Recovery

It is strange to witness singing and dancing in a place which has seen so much death, but the successful treatment of an Ebola patient is cause for celebration at a hospital in north-east DR Congo. Just after midday on Friday, about a dozen healthcare workers in green scrubs sang songs of praise – "grace has been shown to us; grace has been shown to patients" – as they escorted Daniel Kitambala out of the clinic. Two negative Ebola tests confirmed he was free of the virus after spending about three weeks at the facility.

The 49-year-old, a devout Christian, told the BBC: "That disease is terrible. I was feeling very ill [when I came here]. But God is great, I am well now." He was beaming with joy and relief as he walked between two lines of orange netting marking the path out of the treatment centre.

More than 140 people are confirmed to have died from the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola in Ituri province, the epicentre of the latest outbreak declared just over a month ago. The virus has killed about one in five of those known to have been infected. It may have been spreading undetected for months. The authorities are now battling to get infections under control.

Myths and Misinformation

The struggle is partly about overcoming local myths, including that the disease is the result of a "coffin curse" and that treatment centres are the problem, not the solution. On 21 May, a tent set up to treat Ebola patients in the hospital's grounds was set on fire. A similar attack occurred in Rwampara two days later.

Mongbwalu's mayor, Sesereki Mandro Israel, explained that an incident in early February, when a coffin broke during a funeral and was burned, led to the "coffin curse" myth. People were dying daily – seven, eight or even ten people every day.

Hope and Healing

The first patient to leave the centre was 55-year-old pastor Deogratias Kasereka a week ago. Dr Richard Lukodu is optimistic that recoveries will help build trust in the healthcare system. Since the first patient recovered and returned home, more people are coming to seek treatment.

Two weeks ago, the hospital in Mongbwalu got a laboratory, reducing test result turnaround from over a week to within a day. This has been crucial for rapid diagnosis and containment.

Patient Stories

In Rwampara, visiting hours are in the late afternoon. Mireille Gahindo, who has been treated for two weeks with her 11-month-old child, looks forward to discharge. The child initially had fever and diarrhoea, but when he began bleeding from the mouth, she brought him to the treatment centre. Both are now recovering.

Eli Asimwe Bawere, who visited his brother and sister, said: "We have already lost our mother and sister-in-law. We have mourned a lot. We don't want to mourn any more." Each recovery brings hope that the outbreak can be controlled, but health officials warn that many contacts are still being missed, and until they are found, any optimism may be short-lived.