1. Home
  2. Ebola

Ebola

Fieldset
Ebola

Ebola is a deadly disease caused by a highly infectious virus. The initial symptoms (fever, fatigue, headaches) are common, making it difficult to diagnose in the early stages.

Later symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, impaired liver and kidney function, and in some cases internal and external bleeding.

There is currently no cure for Ebola. Treatment is limited to supportive therapy – keeping patients hydrated, maintaining their oxygen status and treating any complicating infections.

The Ebola treatment centre in Katwa was torched just days before a similar attack in Butembo.
Trish Newport - MSF
Trish Newport
Project Coordination
 “We’re being attacked in the Ebola treatment centre": Reflections after the fire
In the wake of an armed attack on an Ebola treatment centre in the Democratic Republic of Congo, aid workers were pushed to radically rethink their approach to the disease. MSF emergency coordinator Trish Newport shares the lessons learned – and their importance for future responses. 
09 Mar 2020 / 6 minute read
Courtney Bercan
Nurse
"If we don't go, who will?": The Ebola workers risking their lives to save patients
When an Ebola treatment centre in the Democratic Republic of Congo is attacked and all but deserted, MSF nurse Courtney must decide whether she will go to the conflict zone to keep it open. She reveals the impact violence has on patients and staff, and introduces us to the inspiring Ebola workers who refuse to leave.
27 Feb 2020 / 14 minute read
Oussama Omrane
Cultural Mediator
Ebola: Letter from Biakato
Oussama blogs from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he shares the "vortex of emotion" experienced on the frontline of the fight against Ebola.
17 Sep 2019 / 9 minute read
Trish Newport - MSF
Trish Newport
Project Coordination
Ebola: “Unless change happens, the outbreak isn’t going to end”
One year since the start of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the epidemic not only still raging, it has become the second-worst in world history. Trish Newport, deputy coordinator of MSF’s Ebola response, reflects on the epidemic and the fight to contain it...
01 Aug 2019 / 7 minute read
Saschveen Singh
Doctor
Ebola in DRC: “This has touched my heart forever”
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is fighting an Ebola epidemic – now the second-largest outbreak in history. At the end of her first week on the frontline, Australian doctor Saschveen shares this story of hope…
14 Jan 2019 / 2 minute read
Saschveen Singh
Doctor
Ebola in DRC: Staying safe in the red zone
Australian doctor Saschveen recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is fighting an Ebola epidemic – now the second-largest outbreak of the disease in history. In this blog, she explains how our teams avoid spreading the disease while caring for infected patients.
04 Jan 2019 / 3 minute read
Saschveen Singh - view from the plane
Saschveen Singh
Doctor
Ebola in DRC: On my way
Australian doctor Saschveen recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is fighting an Ebola epidemic – now the second-largest outbreak of the disease in history. In this first blog, she shares her thoughts on the journey to the frontline.
17 Dec 2018 / 3 minute read
Alpha Diallo MSF
Alpha Diallo
WATSAN
Ebola: "I was terrified of my first time in the high-risk zone. Now I train others."
Three years after the end of the major Ebola epidemic in West Africa, an outbreak of the deadly disease was declared on 1 August 2018 in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In this new fight against Ebola, MSF relies on veteran staff to share their knowledge. One of them is Alpha Diallo, a water and sanitation expert from Guinea.
22 Nov 2018 / 4 minute read
Luis Encinas
Nurse
Chapter 8 : "Your Excellency, I take you at your word. You will be our first to be vaccinated!”
Luis is a nurse with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). He's in the Democratic Republic of Congo responding to the current Ebola outbreak...
28 Jun 2018 / 3 minute read
Luis Encinas
Nurse
Chapter Seven: Stop-over in Itipo
Luis heads back to the capital as he works to start a vaccine trial in response to the current Ebola outbreak...
22 Jun 2018 / 4 minute read
Luis Encinas wearing his protective gear at an Ebola treatment centre
Luis Encinas
Nurse
Chapter Six: The Giant
Luis takes us inside an Ebola treatment centre...
19 Jun 2018 / 6 minute read
Luis Encinas
Nurse
Chapter Five: Meetings
Working with local officials is a vital part of responding to a health emergency. Luis is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of MSF's response to the Ebola outbreak there.
13 Jun 2018 / 3 minute read

MSB4072.jpg

Florian Lems/MSF
Fieldset
Ready to support the team?
Your donation helps us act fast and save lives
Donate