The Chinese government has announced plans to dispatch a team of medical experts to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to support efforts against the ongoing Ebola outbreak that continues to affect several parts of the country.
The announcement was made by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, who said the deployment forms part of China’s humanitarian assistance aimed at strengthening Congo’s ability to control infections and slow the spread of the virus.
According to Lin, the medical specialists will provide clinical support, technical guidance, and public health expertise in some of the areas most affected by the outbreak.
China also pledged to continue supporting both the Congolese government and African health institutions in epidemic prevention and response efforts. The assistance is expected to include cooperation with the African Union Commission and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
The latest intervention comes as the Ebola outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain continues spreading across parts of eastern Congo and neighboring Uganda.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the outbreak remains serious because no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently exists for the Bundibugyo strain, which can have a fatality rate ranging between 30 and 50 percent in previous outbreaks.
Despite those concerns, health authorities have recently reported encouraging signs.
Over the past few days, several infected healthcare workers have successfully recovered and returned home after receiving treatment in Bunia, one of the outbreak’s main centers.
The WHO confirmed that four nurses who contracted Ebola while caring for patients were discharged after testing negative for the virus. A laboratory worker had also recovered earlier, bringing the total number of confirmed recoveries to at least five.
“This is a victory worth celebrating,” said Dr. Dieudonne Mwamba Kazadi, Director-General of Congo’s National Institute of Public Health.
“It is a strong message that it is possible to recover from Ebola when seeking care early in a dedicated health facility.”
WHO officials have also emphasized that early treatment significantly improves survival chances even though no licensed vaccine currently exists for the strain responsible for the outbreak.
As of the latest health reports, Congo has recorded hundreds of confirmed infections, while authorities continue investigating additional suspected cases in affected provinces. The outbreak has largely centered around Ituri Province, where insecurity, community distrust, and attacks on treatment facilities have complicated response efforts.
The arrival of Chinese medical specialists adds to the growing international support being mobilized to prevent the outbreak from spreading further across the region.
Health officials continue urging communities to seek treatment early, cooperate with response teams, and avoid actions that could increase transmission, especially during the handling of infected patients and funeral ceremonies.
