MSF UK: ‘Ebola response will be informed by our experiences in previous epidemics in the DRC and beyond’
21 May 2026 - Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says its response to the Ebola outbreak will be informed “by our experiences in previous epidemics… and beyond.”
In an opening address at the MSF Scientific Days event in London on Wednesday 20 May, Dr Natalie Roberts, MSF UK’s Executive Director, told the audience that “This event demonstrates a commitment to strengthening the way we care for patients in some of the most complex and fragile settings in the world, settings such as the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where once again there is an outbreak of Ebola happening in an area riven by insecurity, violence and conflict, population displacement and extremely limited access to health care.”
The annual event brings together frontline health workers, researchers, and policymakers to share evidence from humanitarian settings. The conference shows how research carried out during conflicts, epidemics and emergencies can directly improve patient care and influence global health responses.
Dr Roberts added, “I’ll be heading out to North Kivu next week to help support the MSF response, a response that will be informed by our experiences in previous Ebola epidemics in the DRC and beyond, including the research studies and collaborations that we participated in and helped deliver, even in the most difficult of circumstances.”
Researchers from United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Dr Akhiro Seita and Dr Masako Horino, were the keynote speakers presenting an analysis of acute malnutrition during the war in Gaza.
Dr Masako Horino said, “Science and collecting data is not just an academic issue, it provides a power to reveal truth by reducing variability in data.”
Afternoon highlights included an important panel discussion exploring the ethics of using MSF's research to support international or domestic justice initiatives featuring presentations on maternal health in Sudan, sexual violence in Haiti and trauma and surgical care in Gaza.
The event at the Royal College of Physicians was also presented with new findings in the following areas of research:
Delivering R21 vaccine through seasonal malaria chemoprevention: coverage and qualitative insights from cluster-randomised trials in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Chad
- Delivering the R21 malaria vaccine together with Seasonal Malaria preventative medications led to much higher vaccine coverage without reducing SMC uptake, showing this combined strategy is both feasible and acceptable to caregivers.
Evaluating the effect of implementing the Responses to Illness Severity Quantification (RISQ) system on mortality in acutely malnourished children treated in Chad: the CRIMSON cluster-randomised trial
- A simple six sign assessment system, used with a pulse oximeter, helped health workers identify very sick children earlier. Clinics using RISQ saw fewer deaths and fewer hospitalisations.
Polyvalent antivenom for snakebite envenoming in Ethiopia: a prospective cohort study
- Findings suggest that Premium PANAF is a safe and effective antivenom for treating snakebite. An easy to store snakebite antivenom—can safely and effectively treat snakebite in Abdurafi, Ethiopia, a remote, high burden area. These findings can help improve treatment protocols and expand access to this lifesaving antivenom.
Feasibility and acceptability of single-dose liposomal amphotericin B for HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis in low-resource settings: the AmbiOne mixed-methods study
- This simplified treatment schedule was easier to use and well accepted in low‑resource hospitals, with low toxicity making it practical where lab monitoring is limited. However, high death rates after discharge show that stronger follow-up and community support are essential once patients leave hospital.
Traumatic injuries and surgical interventions at the Médecins Sans Frontières Surgical Field Hospital in Gaza, from August 2024 to August 2025: a retrospective analysis of medical records
- Preliminary data from Gaza shows that 82% of admissions were trauma related, with blast injuries from bombs and shelling being the leading cause. Data reflects the severe impact of ongoing conflict on civilian health. These findings highlight the urgent need for sustained emergency surgical capacity and better trauma data collection to inform response planning and advocacy in high intensity conflict settings.
Rapid maternal death surveillance and response in humanitarian emergencies: insights from South Darfur, Sudan
- Rapid maternal death surveillance and response (MDSR) findings revealed most maternal deaths occurred within 24 hours of arrival to hospital, often due to delays caused by insecurity. Findings led to the development of women centred clinics inside displacement camps, improving early access to safe delivery services
Peer-driven delivery of long-acting injectable cabotegravir for key populations: preliminary findings from an implementation study in Beira, Mozambique
- Long-acting injectable PrEP (CAB‑LA) was preferred by key populations, with good continuation when offered through community drop-in centres that reduce stigma. Users valued its discretion and lack of daily pills, while injection side effects were common but mostly mild and acceptable.
Advancing population health research to improve intervention: final results from the Mombasa Youth and Key Pop Study
- An MSF youth friendly health intervention in Mombasa improved health and care access for adolescents and young people overall but had limited impact for adolescent and young key populations due to persistent stigma. The findings highlight the need for future programmes to directly address intersectional stigma and vulnerabilities to ensure equitable access to care for all young people.
Health, climate change, and humanitarian response in eastern Chad: a multiphase, multi-sited ethnographic study
- A study from Dar Sila shows how climate change through drought, floods, and chronic water scarcity is reshaping daily life, health, and humanitarian work, forcing communities and MSF to make difficult choices around water and safety. The findings highlight the need for MSF programmes to better integrate climate risks, local knowledge, and water focused solutions into health and emergency responses.
An integrated newborn care kit to save newborn lives and improve health outcomes in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan: an open-label cluster-randomised controlled trial
- In 19,000 pregnancies, a low-cost kit distributed by community health workers reduced umbilical cord infections and postpartum bleeding, offering a simple and promising approach for remote areas.
Summing up, Dr Matthew Coldiron, Director of MSF’s Manson Unit, said, “Don’t make patients fit the tools - make the tools fit the patients. Simplification alone is not the solution. Gaps are identified in how we democratise care – and we’ve seen great examples of how to address those today.”
Please find a selection of stills from the Scientific Days attached for immediate use (Copyright: MSF / Toks Adeola), and contact the MSF UK press team to arrange follow ups, backgrounders and off the record interviews: media@london.msf.org
+44 (0) 207 067 4236
MSF Scientific Days stills.zip
ZIP 89 MB
MSF UK