Mistrust of Responders Deters Ebola Patients from Seeking Care in DRC, Survey Finds

A survey conducted by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) revealed on October 21, 2026, that 85 percent of respondents would avoid seeking medical care due to mistrust of response teams, despite nearly universal awareness of Ebola in the region.

The findings come from an IRC assessment of 80 individuals across three health zones in North Kivu. According to the organization, half of the respondents reported that trust in health authorities and responders has deteriorated since the outbreak began, with safe and dignified burial practices identified as the primary source of tension by 45 percent. The IRC noted that its targeted sampling indicates broader trends rather than statistically representative data.

Respondents reported significant fear of the healthcare system, pointing to rumors that the response aims to harm the local population, allegations that nurses direct patients to private pharmacies, and a widespread perception that Ebola treatment centers lead only to death rather than recovery.

The current outbreak has seen 9,552 reported cases and more than 4,600 deaths since it was declared on May 15, according to the IRC. While case numbers have plateaued overall, the virus has expanded into 66 of 167 health zones. Border crossings have also led to recent cases detected in Kenya and Nigeria. In North Kivu alone, 2,084 cases and 1,176 deaths have been recorded, with the World Health Organization reporting that 86 percent of Ebola deaths in the province occur within communities as sick individuals delay seeking care.

The assessment highlighted that children face significant impacts from the crisis. The IRC reported that 65 percent of respondents observed children being separated from parents due to death, isolation, or hospitalization. Data from UNICEF cited in the release indicates that children under 5 account for 23 percent of cases in North Kivu and experience a 70 percent mortality rate, compared to 48.2 percent overall.

In response to the outbreak's expansion into Grand Nord Kivu, the IRC is scaling up operations in Beni and Butembo. The organization's efforts focus on infection prevention and control training, restoring handwashing stations, supplying protective equipment, and improving triage, patient pathways, and waste management across local health facilities.

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