\n\nAt an Ebola treatment centre in Mongbwalu, Ituri province—the epicentre of the DRC’s latest outbreak—doctors and nurses celebrated as Daniel Kitambala, 49, was discharged after testing negative for the virus. He had spent approximately three weeks in the facility recovering from the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola.
The celebration, marked by singing and dancing among healthcare workers in green scrubs, offered a rare moment of joy in a region that has seen over 140 confirmed deaths from the disease. While the outbreak has killed roughly one in five of those infected and may have been spreading undetected for months, Kitambala’s recovery stands as a powerful testament that survival is possible.
His release also serves as an important counter-narrative to local myths, including beliefs that the disease stems from a “coffin curse” or that treatment centres are harmful. As health authorities continue to battle misinformation and try to contain the virus, these small victories help demonstrate that treatment centres are part of the solution.
