Ebola response in DR Congo includes awareness efforts for deaf people
Ebola response teams in Kisangani, DR Congo, held a meeting with deaf people to raise awareness of Ebola symptoms and prevention. Doctor Gloris Esaa emphasized the vulnerability of people with disabilities during the outbreak, noting communication challenges in healthcare. The outbreak has recorded over 7,500 cases and 3,600 deaths, with the WHO warning it remains out of control.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1) · date de l'événement : 2026-09-21
Ebola response teams in Kisangani, one of the latest affected health zones in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), held a meeting on Monday to raise awareness among deaf people about Ebola symptoms and risks.
Dr. Gloris Esaa from the DRC Ebola response team explained that people with disabilities, especially the deaf, face greater vulnerability during the outbreak due to communication barriers in healthcare settings. He warned that symptoms might be misunderstood or trivialized when patients cannot communicate effectively.
Gilbert Kazingufu, a national sign language interpreter, translated the information to the deaf audience. Carpenter Bwana Muzuri, who attended the session, recalled learning key symptoms such as vomiting, fever, and bleeding, and prevention measures including avoiding handshakes and practicing handwashing and mask-wearing.
As of Saturday, the DRC government reported 7,541 confirmed Ebola cases with 3,639 deaths and 1,823 recoveries. The outbreak, concentrated in Ituri province, is the deadliest of the 17 Ebola outbreaks in the country.
The World Health Organization has stated the outbreak remains out of control and may surpass the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which killed over 11,000 people.