DR Congo's largest Ebola treatment centre opens in Bunia
- The largest Ebola treatment centre in DR Congo is set to open in Bunia.
- The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain, the worst ever recorded in the country.
- The WHO has confirmed the outbreak as the world's second largest on record.
New facility to boost response in Ituri
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are preparing to open the country's largest Ebola treatment centre in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province. The facility is expected to significantly expand capacity to isolate and treat patients amid an outbreak that has spiralled in recent weeks.
The centre comes at a critical juncture. The World Health Organization has confirmed that the current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, is the worst ever recorded in DR Congo. It has also become the world's second largest Ebola outbreak on record, according to the global health body.
Bundibugyo strain poses unique challenges
The Bundibugyo strain differs from the more well-known Zaire strain that drove previous major outbreaks in West Africa and eastern DR Congo. While less studied, it has proven capable of sustained human-to-human transmission, and case fatality rates have been significant.
Medical teams in Bunia have been working under difficult conditions, with limited isolation beds and stretched resources. The new treatment centre is designed to ease that pressure, offering hundreds of beds and dedicated wards for suspected and confirmed cases.
Logistics and community engagement
ReliefWeb updates from late July indicate that logistics remain a major hurdle. The LTC (Logistics and Treatment Centre) situation report for 20–26 July 2026 highlighted ongoing challenges in moving supplies, staff, and samples across a region marked by poor roads and insecurity.
Community mistrust has also complicated response efforts in previous outbreaks. Health workers in Bunia have been engaging local leaders and religious figures to counter rumours and encourage early reporting of symptoms, but resistance persists in some neighbourhoods.
Regional and international support
The opening of the Bunia centre is being supported by international partners, including the WHO and aid agencies. The facility is expected to serve as a referral hub for surrounding health zones, reducing the need for long-distance transfers of patients to Goma or other cities.
Officials have not yet confirmed the exact number of beds or the full staffing plan, but the centre is described as the largest of its kind in the country. It is set to begin admitting patients within days.
What to watch
As the centre opens, attention will turn to whether it can help bend the curve of new infections. The coming weeks will also test the effectiveness of the Bundibugyo-specific response protocols, and whether community engagement efforts can keep pace with the outbreak's spread.