Ebola Response in Congo Hampered by Security Concerns and Attacks

WHO:

AP News - Pierre Akilimali, incident manager for the Ebola response.

AP News - Dr. Adelard Lufongola, operations manager for the Ebola response.

AP News - Stéphane Dujarric, U.N. spokesman.

AP News - Christophe Munyanderu, civil society leader in Ituri’s Irumu territory.

WHAT:

AP News - At least a dozen attacks on health facilities and workers have been recorded during Congo’s Ebola outbreak.

AP News - 2,181 cases of Ebola have been recorded, including 864 deaths.

AP News - The Bundibugyo virus responsible for this outbreak is less common than other Ebola viruses, and there is no approved vaccine or treatment.

AP News - The most recent attack was on a Wednesday, when residents in Nyakunde attacked a hospital and an Ebola treatment center.

AP News - Treatment and care resumed on Thursday at the center after the attack.

WHERE:

AP News - The outbreak is primarily affecting Ituri province in Congo, which accounts for around 90% of all cases.

AP News - Bunia is the capital of Ituri and has been a safer location for health workers relocating from remote communities.

AP News - The town of Nyakunde is where the most recent attack occurred.

WHY:

AP News - Safety fears and escalating violence are restricting the Ebola response.

AP News - Many health workers have gone on strike over unpaid salaries, complicating response efforts.

AP News - Traditional funerals, which involve washing and preparing bodies, have been restricted, causing anger among residents.

HOW:

AP News - Attacks have been carried out by angry mobs storming treatment centers and targeting response teams in the field.

AP News - Humanitarian partners involved in the Ebola response have temporarily relocated staff to Bunia due to the worsening security situation.

(UPDATED July 19, 2026 01:22 UTC)

In Congo's ongoing Ebola outbreak, at least a dozen attacks on health facilities and workers have been reported, with 2,181 cases and 864 deaths recorded so far. The outbreak, primarily affecting Ituri province, has prompted safety fears and escalating violence that are complicating the response, leading many health workers to go on strike over unpaid salaries. The most recent attack occurred in Nyakunde, where residents targeted a hospital and an Ebola treatment center, prompting humanitarian partners to temporarily relocate staff to the capital, Bunia, for safety.