A Doctors Without Borders staff member working on the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus. The aid worker is being evacuated on a special flight to the Netherlands for treatment in a specialized isolation unit.
Medical Evacuation to the Netherlands
The humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières confirmed on Thursday that an aid worker deployed to the Democratic Republic of the Congo has contracted the Bundibugyo virus during response efforts. The patient is being transported on a special flight to the Netherlands under strict medical safety protocols in coordination with health authorities in both nations, according to the humanitarian organisation.
Upon arrival, the patient will be admitted directly to a secure unit at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). The hospital’s specialized facility features isolation rooms equipped with double-door airlocks and intensive care units designed specifically for handling dangerous infectious diseases. All precautionary measures are being taken to prevent transmission,
the hospital said in a statement regarding the incoming transport.
The Dutch health ministry informed parliament that the patient is an MSF doctor deployed to assist with outbreak control. Due to medical confidentiality and privacy concerns, both the health ministry and aid organization declined to disclose the worker’s gender, nationality, or identity.
Occupational Risks Amid an Unprecedented Outbreak
While frontline responders receive training and protective equipment, humanitarian agencies note that operational risks can never be fully eliminated in active conflict zones. MSF maintains active operations supporting the response across Ituri, North Kivu, Tshopo, and Haut-Uélé provinces, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people live amid ongoing instability.
The infection occurs as the country manages its largest and deadliest epidemic on record. Government figures released in conjunction with reporting data indicate that confirmed cases have surpassed 8,000, reaching 8,067 alongside 3,901 deaths. Public health officials note that the true toll is likely higher due to surveillance gaps and detection challenges in affected areas. The World Health Organization has classified the situation as an international emergency. Transmission occurs through direct contact with bodily fluids, and the virus typically causes initial flu-like indicators before potentially progressing to internal and external bleeding. Experts note the fatality rate is approximately 50 percent.
Health Authorities Scale up Intervention to Address Hotspots
Health authorities and international partners continue scaling up intervention pillars to address intense transmission and newly emerging hotspots. In Ituri province, mobile safe and dignified burial teams expanded from 53 squads of 12 members each to 114 squads deployed across the province, with plans to expand the burial network significantly further across hundreds of health zones. Thousands of decontamination operations were carried out in households, health facilities, and treatment centers. Surveillance was intensified to detect cases earlier. WHO epidemiologists and data managers increased from 58 to 114 to support detection and tracking.
Additional bed capacity and health professionals are required to support the expansion and reduce admission delays. Remote localities like Mangala remain difficult to access and face severe travel delays. Sustaining the response requires reinforcing intervention capacities.