Ebola survivors in Congo tell of fight with virus: ‘Coming out alive is an indescribable joy’

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Survivors have recounted their experiences of battling the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus – a strain for which no approved medicine or vaccine currently exists.

Congo is grappling with an outbreak of the virus, with at least 282 confirmed cases reported.

The central African nation’s health ministry indicates that the majority of cases, 264, are concentrated in the eastern Ituri province.

The outbreak, which began weeks ago, has seen over 1,000 suspected infections.

Government data reveals the disease has now spread across 22 health zones in three eastern provinces.

Despite efforts by the World Health Organization to highlight progress, such as new supply deliveries to under-resourced health centres, significant challenges persist.

Ezo Étienne, a doctor who has recovered from Ebola, leaves the treatment center in Bunia, in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (AFP/Getty)

Congo’s health ministry identifies early detection, rapid isolation of cases, rigorous contact tracing, safe and dignified burials, and strengthening infection prevention and control in medical facilities as critical hurdles in containing the remote region’s crisis.

Meanwhile, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations said Monday it would commit up to $62 million to accelerate development of three experimental vaccines targeting Bundibugyo.

The three in development are from the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Moderna and the University of Oxford.

Health workers have been at high risk. The WHO honoured five of them as survivors over the weekend during a visit by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as he opened a new Ebola treatment center in Bunia, capital of Ituri province.

Baraka Bulambulu, a nurse, said that he was overjoyed after his final Ebola tests returned negative results.

Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, right, shakes hands with Ezo Étienne (AP)

“Coming out of this illness alive is an indescribable joy,” Mr Bulambulu said with a wide grin.

Ezo Étienne, another nurse who recovered, said he had started feeling dizzy as he checked on patients.

“I called the team and told them, ‘Something’s wrong here,’” he recalled.

“I decided to rest for a bit, and a few minutes later I started vomiting.”

The virus is spread through close contact with sick or deceased patients’ bodily fluids. Treatment has mostly targeted patients’ symptoms, the WHO has said.

“Your courage gives hope and your living story that this outbreak can be stopped,” Mr Tedros told the health workers on Sunday.

Despite challenges that include threats by armed groups and anger against health workers by some wary residents, the recoveries are “a victory worth celebrating”, said Dr Dieudonne Mwamba Kazadi, director-general of Congo’s National Institute of Public Health.

“It’s a strong message that it is possible to recover from Ebola when seeking care early in a dedicated health facility,” he added.

Neighbouring Uganda has reported nine cases of Ebola in this outbreak and closed its border with Congo seeking to limit its spread.

Although more than 20 Ebola outbreaks have taken place in Congo and Uganda, the Bundibugyo virus has been rare.