Ebola is not a myth. Ebola is real, and it kills. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, this disease has already caused fear, suffering and death. According to information reported by Radio Okapi, the National Institute of Public Health recorded 515 confirmed cases and 91 deaths by 8 June 2026, with Ituri as the epicentre of the outbreak. The same report indicated that 283 patients were hospitalised or placed in isolation, while only 12 people had been declared healed.
These figures are not simple numbers. They represent families, communities and villages touched by fear and loss. They show that Ebola is not a rumour or a distant story. It is a serious public health threat. Radio Okapi also reported that the Government has deployed 9 Ebola treatment centres with a total capacity of 500 beds to strengthen the response. Such measures show the seriousness of the situation.
I am writing this not from far away, but from the field. I live and work among rural communities on the Plateau de Bat̩k̩, in the Archdiocese of Kinshasa: St Fran̤ois de Paule Parish РMose. From our conversations with local communities and mission teams, there is growing fear and uncertainty. People are asking whether Ebola can reach Kinshasa and the surrounding villages, what symptoms to watch for, and what they should do if someone becomes sick.
In Kinshasa, rumours that Ebola cases may already be present in the city are causing anxiety. We have not received official confirmation of these rumours. However, Kinshasa is a large and crowded city, where people move daily through markets, churches, schools, hospitals, bus stations and transport networks. If Ebola entered such a city without early detection and rapid response, the consequences could be very serious.
The danger is even greater in rural areas such as the Plateau de Batéké. Many villages have limited access to reliable public-health information. Some communities have poor radio or internet access. Clean water is limited in some places. Handwashing facilities, soap and hygiene materials are not sufficient. Health centres are far away, roads are poor, and referral of a suspected case could take many hours.
This means that one suspected case in an isolated village could become a serious emergency if people are not informed and prepared. A sick person may first be cared for at home. Family members may touch the patient without protection. In the event of death, traditional burial practices may expose many people to infection. These actions are often done out of love, but during Ebola they can be deadly.
This is why early awareness is urgently needed. Information must reach the grassroots before the disease reaches them. Villages need clear messages in simple language, especially Lingala. People need to know the symptoms, how Ebola spreads, when to report, where to go, and how to protect their families. Churches, schools, local leaders, catechists, youth groups, women’s groups and community health workers must all be involved.
The message must be simple and repeated: Ebola is real. Wash your hands regularly. Avoid touching suspected cases. Do not touch blood, vomit, saliva or other body fluids. Do not hide sick people at home. Report fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, intense weakness or bleeding quickly to the nearest health facility. Do not spread rumours. Listen to trained health workers.
This is not a time for panic. It is a time for vigilance, preparation and action. Panic can confuse people. Denial can kill. But correct information, hygiene and early reporting can save lives.
From the Plateau de Batéké, we see clearly that rural communities must not be forgotten. The most isolated villages need support now, before fear becomes confusion and before a suspected case becomes a tragedy. Prevention is always cheaper, safer and more humane than emergency response after lives have already been lost.
Ebola is real. The danger is real. The figures are serious. The time to prepare is now.
Let us protect the DRC. Let us protect Kinshasa and the Plateau de Batéké. Let us protect our villages and families.
Patrick Lonkoy Bolengu, MHM
St François de Paule Parish – Mose
Plateau de Batéké, Archdiocese of Kinshasa, DRC
