Arabic version: تم العثور على مريضة إيبولا تبلغ من العمر ست سنوات بأمان بعد اختطافها من المستشفى

According to BBC News,

A six-year-old Ebola patient, who Congolese authorities were searching for after armed men stormed the hospital where she was being treated, has been found and is “doing well”, a local health official has told the BBC.

Dr. Lubambo Maboko Gaston confirmed that the girl and her mother were taken by a group of “very angry” men from a hospital in the eastern city of Butembo, two days prior. It remains unclear whether the assailants had any prior connection to the child. The ongoing Ebola outbreak has led to increasing suspicion and fear surrounding treatment facilities.

On Friday, Dr. Gaston announced that the child and her mother had turned up at an Ebola treatment centre roughly 18 kilometers from Butembo. “Her condition is currently considered stable,” he stated.

The current Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo has resulted in more than 230 deaths and 890 confirmed cases. Attacks on Ebola treatment centres have become more frequent, highlighting the challenges faced by health officials in managing the crisis. Just last month, police in Mongbwalu fired shots in the air after angry crowds attempted to reclaim the bodies of loved ones who died from the virus.

Local politician Luc Malembe emphasized the need for better public awareness, stating that many in remote areas view Ebola as an invention by outsiders. The outbreak was officially declared on May 15, though transmission had been going undetected for some time. The surge in cases is attributed to a rare species of Ebola known as Bundibugyo, for which no vaccine currently exists.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has pledged $3.9 million to combat the outbreak, while the Africa CDC has announced a $319 million budget to support ongoing efforts. However, the volatile security situation in eastern DR Congo, exacerbated by the presence of the M23 rebel group, complicates the response to the epidemic.