BUNIA, Democratic Republic of Congo — Health authorities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo continued searching on Friday for a young Ebola patient who was taken from a treatment facility by armed men, as officials warned that the incident could complicate efforts to contain one of the region’s largest recorded outbreaks of the disease.
Congolese health officials said the child, reported to be six years old, was removed from an Ebola treatment center earlier this week in Ituri province, the area most heavily affected by the current outbreak. Authorities said the patient had been receiving care before armed individuals entered the facility and took the child to an unknown location. Details about the patient’s current condition and whereabouts remain unclear.
The incident comes as the outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola continues to expand across eastern Congo and neighboring Uganda. The Democratic Republic of Congo had reported more than 780 confirmed cases by mid-June, while Uganda has recorded a smaller number of linked cases, according to Congolese health authorities, the World Health Organization and regional public health agencies.
Health officials said locating the missing patient is a priority because Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals. Contact tracing teams have been deployed in affected communities, and authorities are working with local leaders to gather information.
“We are continuing efforts to find the child and all possible contacts,” a health official involved in the response told local media, according to reports reviewed by international news organizations. Officials said cooperation from communities remains essential to preventing further transmission.
The search has highlighted ongoing challenges facing the Ebola response in eastern Congo, where insecurity, population displacement and mistrust of health authorities have complicated containment efforts. The World Health Organization said recent security incidents have disrupted surveillance and response activities in some affected areas.
Reuters reported last week that investigators are still examining the origins of the current outbreak, including a funeral in Ituri province that may have contributed to early transmission. Health workers have also reported attacks and threats in some communities, further hindering response operations.
International agencies have increased support for the response. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced additional emergency funding this week, while the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said donor support remains critical as case numbers continue to rise.
As of Friday, authorities had not announced that the missing patient had been found. Health officials said search efforts were continuing while monitoring teams worked to identify and follow potential contacts linked to the case.
