The rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola spreading in Congo has caught many residents off guard after weeks of silent transmission.
When authorities confirmed the outbreak on May 15, hundreds of suspected cases had already emerged, but some locals dismissed the warning as a “Western conspiracy.”
As of Wednesday, at least 62 people had died among 363 confirmed cases. The response has been further complicated by deep skepticism, attacks on health workers and widespread misinformation.
In Bunia, the capital of eastern Ituri province where the outbreak is concentrated, journalist and editorial secretary Verite Johnson of Radio Television Mont Bleu launched a new program aimed at countering rumors and restoring trust in public health messaging.
Chantie Joe Kiss listens to the radio for awareness and updates on Ebola, Bunia, Congo, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo)
