Efforts to contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing increasing challenges following attacks on healthcare workers and medical facilities in the country’s eastern region.
Africa’s leading public health agency has warned that insecurity is making it increasingly difficult for medical teams to reach affected communities, investigate suspected infections and provide treatment to people who need urgent medical attention.
The warning highlights the growing relationship between humanitarian insecurity and public health emergencies in parts of eastern DR Congo.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the outbreak remains a major international public health concern, with almost 11,000 confirmed cases and more than 5,300 deaths reported across eight provinces as of November 11, 2026.
Although there are encouraging signs that transmission is slowing in some areas, the organisation has warned that new hotspots continue to emerge.
One of the most serious incidents occurred during an attack on Cantine-Aloya the previous week. The WHO reported that 66 civilians were killed, including three healthcare workers, while three health facilities were looted and burned.
The attack created a major setback for the Ebola response because it disrupted the activities of medical teams working to identify and contain infections.
The organisation also disclosed that more than 1,000 contacts had been lost to follow-up, while three confirmed cases were unaccounted for.
Contact tracing is one of the most important methods of controlling Ebola. It allows health authorities to identify people who have been exposed to an infected individual and monitor them for symptoms.
When contact tracing is interrupted, potentially infected people may remain unidentified, increasing the risk of further transmission.
The WHO also reported another incident in Tshopo province, where a nurse was killed and another healthcare worker seriously injured while responding to an Ebola alert.
Other security incidents have included threats against medical workers, gunfire near treatment facilities, an attempted arson attack and violence directed at vehicles involved in safe burials.
These incidents have created an environment in which healthcare workers face danger while carrying out essential public health duties.
The situation is particularly concerning because Ebola requires rapid medical attention, effective isolation, laboratory testing and careful monitoring of people who may have been exposed.
Delays in these activities can allow infections to spread before authorities are able to respond.
The WHO has therefore called for stronger protection of medical workers and improved access to affected communities.
It is also working with the Congolese government, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners to strengthen disease surveillance, laboratory services, clinical care and infection prevention.
Community engagement remains another important part of the response. Residents need reliable information about the disease, how it spreads and where to seek medical assistance.
The organisation has also disclosed that research activities are continuing, including vaccine trials and the assessment of possible vaccine candidates specifically developed for the Bundibugyo virus.
However, it stressed that vaccines alone cannot end the outbreak. Early treatment, contact tracing, safe burials and community cooperation remain essential.
The continuing Ebola crisis also has implications for neighbouring countries because infections and population movements can increase pressure on border surveillance systems.
The situation demonstrates that controlling a public health emergency requires more than medical resources. Security, community trust, effective communication and protection for frontline workers are equally important.
Without a safer operating environment, health authorities may struggle to reach patients and prevent further transmission.
The WHO has urged continued international support for the response, warning that progress in some locations should not be mistaken for control of the outbreak as a whole.
