Democratic Republic of the Congo: New Ebola treatment center opens in eastern DR Congo.

SHOTLIST: BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (JUNE 14, 2026) 1. EXTERIOR OF SCOTT POWELL MEMORIAL EBOLA TREATMENT CENTER IN ITURI PROVINCE 2. TENTS AT TREATMENT CENTER COMPOUND 3. ONGOING CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION WORK AT FACILITY 4. OPENING CEREMONY OF EBOLA TREATMENT CENTER 5. SAMARITAN’S PURSE STAFF AND LOCAL WORKERS AT SITE 6. TRAINING SESSION FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS 7. HEALTHCARE WORKERS PRACTICING DONNING AND REMOVING PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT 8. LOCAL OFFICIALS AND HEALTH AUTHORITIES INSPECTING FACILITY 9. DR. RICHARD KITENGE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INSP ITURI RESPONSE UNIT, SPEAKING (French) 10. JEANNE ALASHA, HEALTH ADVISER TO ITURI PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, SPEAKING (French)BUNIA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - JUNE 14, 2026: A new Ebola treatment facility was inaugurated in the Bunia area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ituri province on Sunday, Jun. 14, as authorities seek to strengthen efforts to contain the ongoing outbreak. The Scott Powell Memorial Ebola Treatment Center, built by Samaritan’s Purse International Relief, was officially opened during a ceremony attended by local officials, humanitarian organizations and healthcare workers. Health authorities said the facility, which has more than 80 beds, will increase the region’s capacity to receive and monitor suspected Ebola cases as the outbreak continues to affect multiple health zones in Ituri and neighboring provinces. The center will also provide training for local healthcare workers, including the use of personal protective equipment, patient management procedures and safe burial practices aimed at limiting the spread of the disease. Officials said the new facility is expected to improve treatment conditions for patients and support wider efforts to bring the outbreak under control. - DR Congo sees Ebola cases spiraling rapidly The number of Ebola cases is increasing at a high rate in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the Health Ministry situation update on Sunday. The number of confirmed cases swelled to more than 700, including 149 deaths since the outbreak was declared on May 15. Some 16 confirmed cases have been reported among health and care workers to date. The ministry has attributed the increase to the scale up of testing and diagnostic capacities, which has facilitated testing of the backlog of previously collected samples. The fatality rate has increased to 21% up from 20% last week, while 324 patients remain in isolation or in hospital. The ministry said a joint team of central government and provincial authorities is working with partners and local communities to accelerate public health interventions expected to break chains of transmission. “The response continues with strengthened contact tracing, community awareness-raising and patient care,” the update said. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that the reported case fatality in Congo could likely be an underestimation, as many deaths that occurred before the outbreak declaration remain under investigation. So far, as many as 32 patients have recovered. The outbreak has been concentrated in 29 health zones in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.