Ebola cases in Congo near 300 as more joyful stories from recovered medical workers emerge

By — Justin Kabumba, The Associated Press Justin Kabumba, The Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/ebola-cases-in-congo-near-300-as-more-joyful-stories-from-recovered-medical-workers-emerge Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Ebola cases in Congo near 300 as more joyful stories from recovered medical workers emerge World Jun 1, 2026 4:13 PM EDT BUNIA, Congo (AP) — At least 282 cases of Ebola disease have been confirmed in Congo's growing outbreak, the central African nation says, as more joyful stories from recovered medical workers emerge. One nurse spoke of his "indescribable joy" at beating the illness. The outbreak remains focused in eastern Ituri province, where 264 cases have been confirmed, the health ministry said. Congo has reported more than 1,000 suspected cases of the Bundibugyo virus, the species of Ebola that was confirmed weeks after the outbreak quietly began. There is no approved medicine to treat it, or vaccine. The disease outbreak has killed 42 people in Congo and one person in neighboring Uganda, according to health authorities in both countries. Grow your mind Subscribe to our Science Newsletter to explore the wide worlds of science, health and technology. The outbreak has spread to 22 health zones across three eastern provinces in Congo, government data shows, even as the World Health Organization has sought to highlight signs of progress , like new deliveries of supplies to deeply under-resourced health centers. Congo's health ministry says the main challenges in containing the outbreak in the remote region include early detection and rapid isolation of cases, rigorous contact tracing, safe and dignified burials and strengthening infection prevention and control in health facilities. READ MORE: WHO chief reports 5 Ebola recoveries as new treatment center opens in Congo Meanwhile, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations said Monday that it would commit up to $62 million to accelerate development of three experimental vaccines targeting Bundibugyo. The three in development are from the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Moderna and the University of Oxford. Health workers have been at high risk. WHO honored five of them as survivors over the weekend, during a visit by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as he opened a new Ebola treatment center in Bunia, capital of Ituri province. Baraka Bulambulu, a nurse, said that he was thrilled after the final Ebola tests on him returned negative. "Coming out of this illness alive is an indescribable joy," Bulambulu said with a wide grin. Healthcare workers who have recovered from Ebola pose for a photo in Bunia, Congo, on Sunday. Photo by Moses Sawasawa/AP Photo Ezo Étienne, another nurse who recovered, said that he had started feeling dizzy as he checked on patients. "I called the team and told them, 'Something's wrong here,'" he recalled. "I decided to rest for a