LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Health authorities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have launched an urgent search for a six-year-old Ebola patient and her mother after armed men reportedly removed them from a treatment facility, raising concerns about further spread of the deadly virus.
The child had been receiving treatment at Wanamahika Hospital in the city of Butembo when a group of armed men reportedly stormed the facility and removed her from care.
In a statement, local health official Dr. Lubambo Maboko Gaston said the girl was taken away by “very angry” men carrying knives.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the men were related to the child or known to her family.
The incident comes amid ongoing mistrust of Ebola treatment centres in parts of eastern Congo, where misinformation and fear continue to complicate public health efforts.
Reports state that Gaston appealed directly to the child and her mother to return to a healthcare facility for treatment.
He warned that failing to do so could risk “worsening their health” and “infecting their relatives.”
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The latest development has heightened concerns over disease transmission in the region.
Notably, it now adds to the challenges facing health workers battling an Ebola outbreak that has already recorded nearly 200 deaths and 840 confirmed cases.
Meanwhile, tensions surrounding Ebola response measures have led to several attacks on treatment centres in recent months.
Last month, police in Mongbwalu fired warning shots into the air after angry residents attempted to recover the bodies of relatives who had died at a health facility.
Earlier, crowds in Rwampara set fire to hospital isolation tents after being prevented from taking away the body of a man believed to have died from Ebola.
Health experts have repeatedly warned that the bodies of Ebola victims remain highly infectious and can contribute to the spread of the virus during traditional burial preparations.
Addressing the resistance to public health measures, local politician Luc Malembe Malembe said misinformation remains a major obstacle in affected communities.
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“People are not properly informed or sensitized about what is happening. For a certain segment of the population, especially in remote areas, Ebola is an invention by outsiders – it does not exist. They believe it is the NGOs and hospitals creating this to make money, and this is tragic,” Malembe stated.
According to health authorities, the current outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that there is currently no approved vaccine for this species, and developing one could take several months.
Most of the confirmed cases have been reported in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces, with Ituri remaining the epicentre of transmission.
Furthermore, the WHO has warned that ongoing conflict in eastern Congo is making outbreak response efforts more difficult.
Also, large parts of North Kivu and South Kivu remain under the control of the M23 rebel group, limiting access for healthcare workers and emergency teams.
The disappearance of the young patient has intensified fears among health officials, who insist that swift medical intervention and community cooperation remain critical to containing the outbreak and preventing additional infections.
