DR Congo President Warns Against Believing Ebola Misinformation

In the modern age of medicine people in the Democratic Republic of Congo still rely on traditional medicine to fight the Ebola outbreak, due to what the president said was ‘misinformation’ driving people away from vaccines already available.

President Felix Tshisekedi on Tuesday called for the population to trust and cooperate with health workers as they try to contain the nation’s worst-ever Ebola outbreak in the East.

“I ask you my countrymen, my fathers, my little brothers, listen and cooperate with the medical response teams that are working tirelessly here to eradicate this disease. If you do so, this disease will not spread everywhere anymore and we will contain it and get rid of it completely here.” said Tshisekedi.

The current ebola outbreak in the country is the 10th outbreak that hit the DRC since 1976. According to the World Health Organisation(WHO) 849 EVD cases have been reported since February 19 of those 519 were reported dead.

Tshikeledi’s urge to the people comes after a spate of attacks as aid workers have faced mistrust in some areas as they seek to contain the Ebola outbreak, which has become the most severe in Congo’s history. The WHO has said the distrust is fueled by false rumors about treatments and preference for traditional medicine.

Another MSF center in Butembo was also attacked in late February but reopened a week later. MSF has pulled out from the area since the two attacks and has not said when it might resume medical activities.

Belief in misinformation has been widespread in the country, according to a Lancet report. A survey was conducted where 936 people were questioned 25% of the respondents reportedly believe that the Ebola outbreak was not real. Low institutional trust and belief in misinformation were associated with a decreased likelihood of adopting preventive behaviours, including acceptance of Ebola vaccines