Full Breakdown
Ebola’s Bundibugyo Outbreak in Congo: Traditional Healers vs. Hospitals
6/18/2026, 12:42:08 AM
Outbreak Overview
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province confirmed a new Ebola outbreak on 15 May 2026 in Bunia, the epicenter of the 17th Ebola event since 1976. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare strain with no approved medicines or vaccines. The same strain caused a 2007 outbreak in Uganda’s Bundibugyo district, home to roughly 200,000 farmers, that killed at least 36 people. By 17 June 2026, at least 181 deaths were reported. The virus spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids; armed violence and displacement further hamper response.
Official Responses
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared a public-health emergency of international concern and urged testing, isolation and community engagement. The United States imposed an entry ban on non-U.S. passport holders who visited Congo, Uganda or South Sudan. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni warned pastors that “the people of God … are the ones who touch patients. … God is not deaf. You can pray without touching.” Mercy Corps’ Onesphore Bangenza said mistrust drives patients to traditional healers and faith leaders.
Community Mistrust and Opposition
Rumors in Bunia claim Ebola spreads via magical charms tied to dollar bills, and many describe the disease as “mysterious, spiritual, or brought by outsiders.” Such beliefs fuel reliance on “witch doctors” and discourage hospital visits. Elder Vincent Isimbwa said severe symptoms lead some to attribute the illness to supernatural powers.
On-the-Ground Accounts
Catechist Deogratias Kasereka said, “I don’t usually rush to the hospital, so I decided to go to the fields.” Nurse survivor Samuel Kuule described peeling skin, blood-shot eyes and severe headache, noting his pregnant wife remained uninfected. Healer Amon Balinda said patients switch to “witch doctors” after ineffective injections.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Some experts suggest transmission began in February, yet WHO confirmed the outbreak only in May after testing for a different Ebola virus. No comprehensive case or recovery data have been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Some people still describe Ebola as something mysterious, spiritual, or brought by outsiders, rather than a disease that needs medical care,” — Onesphore Bangenza, Mercy Corps
- “I don’t usually rush to the hospital, so I decided to go to the fields,” — Deogratias Kasereka, catechist
- “The people of God — they are the ones who touch patients. … God is not deaf. You can pray without touching.” — President Yoweri Museveni
- “For us in African traditional societies, in most cases when you fall sick and you go to the hospitals and they give you some injections and there is no improvement, there and then you switch to your neighbor, or anybody, and say maybe he is the one bewitching you,” — Amon Balinda, traditional healer
Outlook
WHO continues to call for rapid diagnostic testing, contact tracing and cooperation with religious and traditional leaders to improve case detection. The U.S. travel ban remains in effect pending a decline in cases. Health officials stress sensitive communication to replace misinformation with evidence-based practices.
