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.

Rita M. Nelson

Nurse

Ebola: Preventing another outbreak in Liberia

After an Ebola outbreak was declared in Guinea earlier this year, epidemic surveillance was stepped in in neighbouring areas of Liberia. Rita, a nurse and infection prevention specialist, shares her experience of the effort...

16 Jul 2021 / 5 minute read

The Ebola treatment centre in Katwa was torched just days before a similar attack in Butembo.

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

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

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

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