Ituri province in eastern DR Congo has become the centre of an Ebola outbreak driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, which currently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Mariam Kabika, a traditional healer in the region, says she relies on forest plants and aloe vera to prepare mixtures she believes can treat patients affected by the virus.
In communities where healthcare services are limited many residents turn to traditional healers, who are licensed locally but not recognised as formal medical practitioners by global health authorities.
Traditional healer Dauda Tshimanga says his community has developed remedies and argues that both traditional and modern medicine should be used together in the fight against Ebola.
The World Health Organization has previously worked with traditional healers during Ebola outbreaks to encourage infection control practices and strengthen trust between communities and health workers.
Experts say the Bundibugyo strain remains particularly challenging because no licensed vaccine or targeted treatment exists leaving supportive care as the main option in formal hospitals.
Despite the lack of scientific validation traditional remedies continue to circulate widely especially in rural areas where access to clinics is limited and transport is difficult.
Health officials caution that Ebola is a highly infectious disease and advise communities to seek medical care quickly rather than relying solely on untested remedies.
Efforts continue to bridge the gap between modern healthcare systems and traditional practitioners in order to improve outbreak response and save lives across the region.
Surveillance teams in eastern DR Congo are working to track infections and identify contacts as authorities try to contain the outbreak in Ituri province.
Public health partners including the World Health Organization continue to engage community leaders and traditional healers to improve awareness reduce transmission and support effective response measures during the outbreak across affected areas in Congo regionwide.
