As Ebola spreads in Congo, radio station combats misinformation

BUNIA, Democratic Republic of the Congo — The rare Bundibugyo type of Ebola that Congo is battling took locals by surprise after weeks of undetected spreading.

Hundreds of cases were suspected when the outbreak was declared in May, but many dismissed the news as a “Western conspiracy.” Congolese authorities announced the new Ebola outbreak on May 15.

At least 63 people have died from 381 confirmed cases, Congolese Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said late Thursday.

Yet the outbreak has been challenged by skepticism, attacks on health workers and misinformation.

Verite Johnson, a journalist and editorial secretary at the Radio Television Mont Bleu station in Bunia, the eastern Ituri province capital where the outbreak is concentrated, decided to produce a new program to combat rumors.

The radio show has emerged as a vital tool to win over some residents who have been unaware or skeptical about the facts of Bundibugyo.

The 45-minute program runs daily at 10 a.m., reminding people of the dangers and regularly featuring health specialists providing updates and answering questions.

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