Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo have located a six-year-old child confirmed to have Ebola, who briefly disappeared from a treatment centre in the eastern city of Beni. The child, whose identity has not been disclosed, was reported missing on Tuesday evening and found early Wednesday morning by a joint team of WHO and DR Congo health workers. The incident underscores the challenges of containing the virus in a region already grappling with insecurity and community mistrust.
The child was receiving treatment at a facility run by Médecins Sans Frontières when they went missing. The circumstances of the disappearance remain unclear, but local authorities have stated that the child’s family had expressed fears about the treatment. The family reportedly believed the child was not receiving adequate care. Medical staff have since spoken with the family, and the child has been returned to the isolation unit.
This episode comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced it is monitoring the outbreak response in DR Congo, though no direct threat to the UK has been identified. The UKHSA said it is in contact with international partners and remains prepared to deploy specialist teams if required. The agency’s chief medical advisor noted that the risk to the British public remains low, given the lack of direct flights from the affected region and robust screening measures in place.
The current outbreak, declared by the DR Congo government on 1 February, has so far recorded 12 confirmed cases and six deaths. The epicentre is in North Kivu province, an area that has experienced repeated Ebola outbreaks since 2018. The region’s proximity to conflict zones has hampered vaccination efforts and contact tracing. Health workers have also faced hostility from some local communities, who view international responders with suspicion.
The World Health Organization has described the outbreak as a significant challenge, but not yet of international concern. The agency has deployed 13,000 doses of the Ebola vaccine and is conducting ring vaccination of contacts. The UK has contributed £10 million to the WHO’s emergency fund and is supporting research into new treatments.
Experts say that early detection and community engagement are critical. Dr Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Minnesota, said that the disappearance and return of the child highlights the need for better communication. “We cannot simply impose public health measures. We must earn trust,” he said.
The DR Congo government has appealed for calm and urged cooperation. The country’s health minister, Dr Jean-Jacques Mbungani, said that all necessary resources are being mobilised. “We will do whatever it takes to stop this outbreak,” he said.
The UKHSA’s involvement is largely precautionary. The agency has a long-standing partnership with DR Congo’s Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale and has provided training for laboratory staff. British experts are also helping to develop new diagnostic tools that can detect Ebola strains faster.
The next few days will be critical. If the child remains stable and no new cases emerge, the outbreak may be contained. But the region’s volatility means that the situation could change quickly. International health bodies are maintaining a high state of alert, even as the immediate focus remains on treating those already infected.
For now, the child is safe, but the broader fight against Ebola in eastern Congo continues.
