Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing significant challenges in controlling an Ebola outbreak in the eastern region amid growing distrust from local communities. The situation has been especially precarious in the Kpangba displacement camp, part of the Nizi health zone, where deaths linked to Ebola were confirmed for the first time two weeks ago.

After two women died of the disease on May 31 and June 1, health workers from the provincial health ministry, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other aid groups attempted to trace contacts in order to halt further transmission. However, their efforts were met with resistance from camp residents who reject the Ebola diagnosis and have prevented officials from conducting follow-up investigations. Jean-Claude Lonzama, chief doctor for the Nizi health zone, said as of June 15, efforts to monitor contacts of the deceased had been stalled due to the hostile response from locals.

Kpangba hosts around 30,000 displaced individuals who have fled inter-ethnic violence in the surrounding areas. The broader Nizi health zone encompasses 22 displacement sites with an estimated population of more than 81,000 people. These camps typically suffer from poor sanitation, overcrowding, and limited access to basic hygiene facilities, conditions that aid workers warn could accelerate the spread of Ebola.

Since the outbreak was declared about a month ago, authorities have encountered repeated attacks on Ebola treatment centers, driven by suspicions and grievances among residents—particularly anger over restrictions on traditional burial practices designed to prevent virus transmission. Such hostility echoes similar violence during the 2018-2020 Ebola epidemic in eastern Congo, which resulted in the deaths of over 25 health workers.

The initial Ebola case within the Kpangba camp involved a 60-year-old woman who tested positive on May 30 but absconded from quarantine soon after and could not be located. The confirmation of these deaths was made public through a United Nations refugee agency report released on June 15. The ongoing armed conflicts and insecurity in Ituri, South Kivu, and North Kivu provinces, all heavily affected by the outbreak, further complicate response efforts.

Public health officials are grappling with long-standing mistrust of government authorities and external agencies, posing a significant barrier to implementing effective control measures. Combined with shortages of essential medical supplies and the volatile security situation, experts express serious concern about the ability to contain one of the largest Ebola outbreaks recorded in the region.