Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), since the Ebola outbreak was declared on 15 May, testing for the Bundibugyo virus is available at six sites across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including Bunia and Mongbwalu in Ituri Province, Bukavu and Lwiro in South Kivu, Goma in North Kivu, and Kinshasa. Four laboratories in Uganda have also been activated to address imported cases, with 19 confirmed and one probable case reported so far.
WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević noted that some areas have few alerts, indicating that transmission chains may not be fully detected, which poses ongoing risks of infection spread.
Bruno Michon, Operations Manager for the Ebola outbreak at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), stressed that building community trust is as crucial as medical responses. Persistent skepticism in the eastern DRC continues, with some questioning Ebola's existence or viewing the outbreak as fabricated for foreign aid. Others see safe burials as threats to cultural traditions, complicating containment efforts.
Michon explained that fear and stigma lead people to avoid reporting symptoms and seeking treatment, sometimes remaining at home despite illness. Social media misinformation intensifies these fears and has contributed to attacks on treatment centers and the displacement of over 100,000 people in the region.
To address these concerns, the IFRC has adopted approaches such as using body bags with windows to allow families to view deceased loved ones, aiming to respect cultural sensitivities and build trust while maintaining safety.