Ebola patients and responders flee Congo hospital after attack by angry crowd

An angry crowd attacked Nyakunde Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 15, 2026, after a pregnant woman died when the hospital refused a blood transfusion due to Ebola protocols. The attack forced Ebola patients and medical responders, including Samaritan's Purse staff, to flee. The DRC's 17th Ebola outbreak has caused 796 deaths, while neighboring Uganda has discharged its last patient and begun its 42-day countdown to be declared Ebola-free.

Nyakunde Hospital attack

• ▪The generator supplying power to Nyakunde Hospital stopped functioning following the attack on July 15, 2026
• ▪The Democratic Republic of Congo's army opened an investigation into the unrest at Nyakunde Hospital
• ▪The attack on Nyakunde Hospital on July 15, 2026, caused Ebola patients and medical responders to flee the facility
• ▪An angry crowd attacked Nyakunde Hospital in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of Congo, on July 15, 2026, throwing stones and damaging its perimeter fence

Community mistrust of medical teams

• ▪Mistrust of medical teams, community resistance, and insecurity have repeatedly disrupted Ebola treatment and containment efforts in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
• ▪Security risks have fueled protests and strike threats by health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo over low pay and stressful conditions

Ebola outbreak mortality statistics

• ▪The 17th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has led to 2,073 confirmed cases and 796 deaths as of July 16, 2026
• ▪The World Health Organization stated that the true tally of Ebola infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo could be at least double the official count

Health worker evacuation

• ▪Some Ebola patients who were too sick to flee Nyakunde Hospital remained behind without treatment following the evacuation
• ▪Samaritan's Purse evacuated its staff from its Ebola treatment center next to Nyakunde Hospital on July 15, 2026

Uganda Ebola-free countdown

• ▪Uganda has confirmed 20 cases of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola since mid-May 2026, with 15 cases originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo
• ▪Uganda discharged its last remaining Ebola patient on July 16, 2026, starting a 42-day countdown to be declared free of the virus

Blood transfusion prohibition controversy

• ▪The pregnant woman died of severe anemia at Nyakunde Hospital on July 15, 2026, triggering the crowd's attack shortly afterward
• ▪Nyakunde Hospital refused a blood donation from family members of a pregnant woman because blood transfusions are prohibited during an Ebola outbreak