BENI, EASTERN CONGO | October 29, 2026 : As Ebola continues to devastate communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one village chief is fighting a battle beyond the virus itself — the battle against fear, misinformation and deep-rooted prejudice.
Alphonse bin Kitobi Achou Taibo, chief of Bapakombe-Bakondo near Beni in North Kivu province, lost four members of his own family to Ebola. Eleven other relatives contracted the disease but survived after he persuaded them to seek hospital care.
His experience reveals how mistrust can turn a medical emergency into a community-wide tragedy.
🦠 A DEADLY OUTBREAK
According to figures from Congo’s Ministry of Health cited in the report:
🔴 More than 10,000 confirmed cases
🔴 Over 4,800 reported deaths
🔴 The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there is no approved vaccine or treatment, according to the report.
The outbreak, declared in May, has been especially difficult to contain amid armed conflict, poor roads, insecurity and resistance to health workers.
💔 WHEN MISINFORMATION COSTS LIVES
Achou Taibo said several relatives initially refused to go to hospital, believing he was taking them there to die. Some community members and traditional practitioners attributed Ebola deaths to poisoning rather than infection.
In one tragic instance, a traditional healer reportedly gave his cousin a potion intended to expel poison, but her condition worsened. She later recovered after receiving care.
The chief has also witnessed fear turn into violence, with young people reportedly setting fire to homes over accusations of witchcraft.
⚠️ FEAR DOES NOT END WITH SURVIVAL
Ebola survivors can face rejection long after leaving treatment centres. Achou Taibo’s cousin, Zawadi Kavira Musubao, said her landlord forced her family out after their home was disinfected, claiming the process had brought evil spirits into the house.
Now unemployed following her illness, she hopes to raise enough money to begin selling tomatoes and small fish.
Her experience underscores another painful reality: surviving a disease does not guarantee acceptance, security or the opportunity to rebuild a life.
🚨 CONFLICT AND MISTRUST COMPLICATE THE RESPONSE
Eastern Congo has endured years of rebel violence, displacement and repeated health emergencies. The report notes that insecurity has restricted access for medical teams, while allegations of past corruption and mismanagement have weakened public confidence.
The World Health Organization also condemned an attack in which a nurse was killed and another health worker injured while responding to an Ebola alert in Bafwasende.
WHO Africa Regional Director Mohamed Yakub Janabi warned that misinformation and fear must never fuel violence.
🤝 ONE CHIEF’S FIGHT FOR THE TRUTH
Despite hostility and personal loss, Achou Taibo continues urging residents to report symptoms, get tested and accept medical care. He also shares food and money with people in need whenever he can.
His message is simple but powerful: communities must confront the truth about Ebola before fear claims more lives.
Ebola is a medical emergency — not a curse, not witchcraft and not a reason to persecute survivors. Timely medical attention, trusted community engagement and compassion are vital to protecting lives and stopping the spread.
📢 The fight against Ebola requires more than hospitals and health workers. It requires trust, accurate information and dignity for every patient and survivor.
