{"id":30237,"date":"2026-06-16T21:05:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T01:05:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/some-question-if-ebola-is-real-how-trust-is-central-in-fighting-drc-outbreak\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T21:05:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T01:05:51","slug":"some-question-if-ebola-is-real-how-trust-is-central-in-fighting-drc-outbreak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/some-question-if-ebola-is-real-how-trust-is-central-in-fighting-drc-outbreak\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Some question if Ebola is real\u2019: how trust is central in fighting DRC outbreak"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since the outbreak was declared on 15 May, considerable progress has been made on testing capacities, Tarik Ja\u0161arevi\u0107, spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO<\/a>) told reporters in Geneva.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Testing for the Bundibugyo virus responsible for the outbreak is available in six locations in the country: in Bunia and Mongbwalu in Ituri Province, Bukavu and Lwiro in South Kivu, Goma in North Kivu, in addition to the capital Kinshasa.<\/p>\n

Another four laboratories have been activated in Uganda where cases had been imported from DRC, with 19 confirmed cases and one probable\u00a0case\u00a0to date.<\/p>\n

However, there is still room for improvement.<\/p>\n

Breaking the chain<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cWe have blind spots where we get a low number of alerts,\u201d Mr. Ja\u0161arevi\u0107 said. \u201cThere may be transmission chains that are not being detected. There are still people who risk infecting other people, and we need to get them\u201d.<\/p>\n

Bruno Michon, Operations Manager for the Ebola<\/a> outbreak at UN partner the\u00a0International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), insisted that to stop the spread, investment is needed not only in the medical response, but also in building trust, which is time-consuming and difficult.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut in this outbreak, it is not optional. It is lifesaving,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Speaking from Bunia, the epicentre of the crisis, he said that \u201csome people still question whether the disease is real\u201d and believe that the outbreak may have been \u201cinvented\u201d to attract foreign aid. Others \u201csee safe and dignified burials as an attack [on] culture and tradition, rather than a measure to protect families and communities\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Scepticism, doubt and fear have hindered the response in conflict-scarred eastern DRC, by the local community\u2019s distrust of outside authorities, which is significantly increasing the risk of disease transmission.<\/p>\n

In the early days of the outbreak, two treatment centres were set on fire in the region, which has been beset by intense fighting, causing the displacement of more than 100,000 people.<\/p>\n

At the time, WHO told UN News<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>that the attacks were linked to misinformation campaigns circulating on social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people are afraid, they may not report symptoms,\u201d explained Mr. Michon. \u201cThey may avoid treatment centres\u201d for fear of contamination and prefer to stay at home when they have a fever, \u201cashamed to tell the family that they are sick\u201d, since significant stigma comes with the disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cFamilies try to bury their loved ones according to traditional practices without knowing the level of risk involved,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Respectful approach<\/h2>\n

The IFRC official explained that trust is earned through measures destined to appease the community\u2019s concerns.<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing community feedback, we started using body bags with a window so that the family can see the face of the deceased\u201d and begin the grieving process, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen communities told us they feared that chlorine was used to poison them, we did not argue. We demonstrated how disinfectants are prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout trust, we cannot detect cases early,\u201d Mr. Michon continued. \u201cWe cannot ensure safe and dignified burials. We cannot even protect families and we cannot stop the transmission.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrust is not a secondary activity in the Ebola response. Trust is central,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since the outbreak was declared on 15 May, considerable progress has been made on testing capacities, Tarik Ja\u0161arevi\u0107, spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO) told reporters in Geneva.\u00a0 Testing for the Bundibugyo virus responsible for the outbreak is available in six locations in the country: in Bunia and Mongbwalu in Ituri Province, Bukavu and 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