An Ebola treatment center in Butembo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is operating at full capacity with 30 beds filled as the outbreak continues to escalate. Dr. Rupa Narra, a U.S. pediatrician who arrived in August to work with Doctors Without Borders, described the situation as the most devastating she has witnessed in her career. Since May, the outbreak has produced at least 6,800 confirmed cases and more than 3,310 deaths, positioning it to become the worst Ebola outbreak on record.
The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of ebolavirus, for which no approved antiviral medication or vaccine exists. While children represent one quarter of confirmed cases, they account for one third of all deaths. Among infants, the virus is nearly always fatal. Last week alone, Narra’s unit lost eight patients, all under age 5. Medical personnel provide supportive care through fluids, oxygen, and blood transfusions while managing complications such as hypothermia and secondary infections, with no targeted treatments available to fight the virus itself.
Narra noted that the speed of disease transmission has exceeded anything previously encountered in the region. The outbreak is concentrated in the eastern border area between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda, where armed conflict between Congolese forces and Rwandan-backed paramilitaries has displaced populations into urban centers. The healthcare system in this region already faces strain from malnutrition, malaria, and measles, while reductions in foreign aid have disrupted routine vaccination programs and other medical assistance.
Staff members are limited to approximately one hour at a time in the treatment unit due to the physical and psychological demands of working in full protective gear. This restriction prevents pediatric patients from receiving continuous care during critical moments. Narra shared an anecdote about a newborn whose mother died shortly after delivery; an Ebola survivor, herself immune from prior infection, volunteered to care for the orphaned infant. The baby survived for 10 days before succumbing to the virus, with her caregiver remaining at her bedside throughout.
Narra has extensive experience responding to health crises, having worked as an epidemiologist during the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak and as a pediatrician in Brooklyn during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite her background, she emphasized the unique challenges posed by this outbreak’s transmission speed combined with the region’s fragile healthcare infrastructure.
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