Family members celebrate after a relative was declared cured of Ebola in Goma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), June 3, 2026. (Str)

A patient infected with Ebola virus disease has been discharged from the hospital in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), offering a rare moment of optimism as health authorities continue battling a growing outbreak that has claimed dozens of lives.

The patient was released on Wednesday in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, after being declared recovered by medical teams. Family members described the recovery as a relief following days of uncertainty and concern. “We are very happy. Her illness worried us deeply,” said Kavira Kazadi, a relative of the recovered patient. “Since she was hospitalised, none of us could go to work. We were all anxious.” Kavira added. 

The discharge comes as the DRC continues responding to an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment. According to the DRC government, 344 confirmed Ebola cases and 60 deaths had been recorded as of Monday. Six patients have recovered from the disease so far.

Health authorities and international organisations have intensified efforts to contain the outbreak, particularly in eastern parts of the country where insecurity continues to complicate response operations. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders said the current response is drawing on systems developed during previous Ebola outbreaks in the country.

In Goma, an 80-bed Ebola treatment centre has been established and is already receiving patients. The outbreak is unfolding against a backdrop of ongoing insecurity in North Kivu Province, where parts of the region remain difficult to access. Goma has been under the control of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group since early 2025, creating additional challenges for health workers and humanitarian agencies operating in the area.

A family member of a patient cured of Ebola (C) speaks to the media in Goma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), June 3, 2026. (Str)

Despite these obstacles, the World Health Organization said it continues to maintain a presence in the affected region. “We have never left Kivu,” WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Yakub Janabi said on Wednesday. The WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17 May, citing concerns over cross-border transmission and regional public health risks.

While health officials continue warning that the outbreak remains serious, recoveries such as the one recorded in Goma are being viewed as an important sign that treatment efforts can save lives, even as containment measures intensify across affected communities.