Ebola in DR Congo: Six-year-old 'doing well' after armed men took her from hospital

Armed men stormed a hospital in Butembo, eastern DR Congo, abducting a six-year-old Ebola patient and her mother. Local health official Dr. Lubambo Maboko Gaston later told the BBC that the pair were taken two days earlier by extremely angry men. The girl and her mother appeared about 18 kilometers away at an Ebola treatment centre, and the child was described as stable. The incident highlights the fear surrounding Ebola treatment sites amid the current outbreak. The outbreak, officially declared May 15, has produced more than 230 deaths and about 890 confirmed cases, driven by the Bundibugyo strain for which there is no vaccine yet. The World Health Organization has pledged $3.9 million to the response, while Africa CDC has a budget of about $319 million. Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases and two deaths; cross-border transmission remains a concern for nearby communities and responders. Attacks on isolation tents and widespread distrust of outsiders complicate containment, with residents such as Luc Malembe arguing that Ebola is viewed as an outsiders’ invention. Public health officials emphasize safe burials and robust contact tracing as essential tools, and treatment centres have been expanded in several affected towns. The provinces implicated include Itu, and authorities say vigilance and community engagement must continue to prevent further spread.