A six-year-old child, diagnosed with Ebola and abducted from a treatment centre in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been found alive and safe. The incident, which saw gunmen storm the hospital in Beni, North Kivu, has prompted urgent calls from British health experts for a complete review of security protocols at Ebola treatment facilities.
The child, who had been receiving treatment for the deadly virus, was taken late on Monday night. A heavily armed group, believed to be local militiamen, raided the centre, overpowering guards and healthcare workers. The motive for the abduction remains unclear, though sources in the region suggest the kidnappers may have been seeking ransom or acting on community fears about the disease.
“This is a deeply worrying development,” said Dr. James Harding, a UK-based infectious disease specialist who has worked in the region. “Ebola is highly contagious. A missing patient, especially a child, poses a risk not only to themselves but to entire communities. Security must be paramount.”
The child was found on Wednesday morning by local police in a village near the Ugandan border, dehydrated and frightened, but alive. Medical teams are now re-evaluating their treatment plan, mindful of the psychological trauma inflicted.
The abduction has intensified scrutiny on the security of health workers and patients in regions where mistrust of foreign medical teams runs deep. The UK’s Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment, but officials have already expressed alarm. “Our Ebola response relies on trust and safety. This incident undermines both,” a spokesperson said.
The World Health Organization has recorded over 2,000 cases in the current outbreak, with a fatality rate of around 66 per cent. Health charities warn that incidents like these could deter workers from deploying to the field. “We cannot allow fear to cripple the response,” said Dr. Harding. “But we also cannot ignore the deep-seated issues that allow such events to happen.”
The child’s family, who had initially reported the abduction, have not spoken publicly. For now, the focus remains on ensuring the boy’s recovery and preventing a wider security crisis in one of the world’s most volatile health emergencies.
