MSF DRC: New Ebola hotspot in AFC/M23-governed area of North Kivu

09 October 2026 - Following the alert regarding nine confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease in Kayna and Alimbongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo on 02 October - an area of North Kivu under the control of the AFC/M23 - a mobile Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) team arrived in the area to strengthen patient care and help limit the spread of the virus on 06 October. Our team is supporting the implementation of infection prevention and control measures, patient care, and community outreach activities.

In September, MSF had already built an isolation centre at the Kayna General Hospital. But as new outbreaks emerge, the response continues to face numerous challenges: some patients’ refusal to be isolated, unsafe burials, mistrust among parts of the community, and insecurity stemming from the armed conflict.

“Part of the population still does not fully believe that Ebola exists. Community outreach is the top priority to prevent the epidemic from spreading,” explains Nicodeme Kabuyaya, MSF Deputy Project Coordinator.

One area of concern is the closure of roads to limit movement as part of the response. In the context of armed conflict, these restrictions complicate the supply of essential goods to communities and increase their vulnerability.

This epidemic, characterised by the emergence of multiple outbreaks, requires a high degree of mobility on the part of those involved in the response, as well as the human and logistical resources needed to intervene quickly and contain outbreaks wherever they arise.

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