Doctors Without Borders Worker Evacuated After Contracting Ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo Outbreak

A Doctors Without Borders worker contracted Bundibugyo virus disease while responding to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and was evacuated to the Netherlands on October 1, 2026, officials said. The medical evacuation was carried out under strict protocols and coordinated with health authorities in both countries to provide specialized treatment at Leiden University Medical Center.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) confirmed on October 1, 2026, that one of its staff members working on the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) tested positive for Bundibugyo virus disease, a form of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus, according to the organization’s statement and contemporaneous reporting. The infected worker, identified by Dutch authorities as an MSF doctor, was evacuated from the DRC under strict medical protocols coordinated between health authorities in both countries, Reuters reported. The patient was transferred to a specialized isolation unit at Leiden University Medical Center, located approximately 40 kilometers southwest of Amsterdam, for treatment.

The Bundibugyo virus, first identified in Uganda’s Bundibugyo district, is a distinct strain of Ebola virus disease from the more commonly reported Zaire ebolavirus.

MSF withheld personal details of the staff member, including name, nationality, sex, and specific work location, citing medical confidentiality and privacy concerns, the organization said. The group confirmed the case involved a humanitarian worker deployed as part of the international response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the DRC. Dutch health officials described the patient as a doctor assisting in efforts to combat the outbreak, according to Reuters.

MSF and news reports referred to the infection as Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, but neither MSF nor other sources disclosed details about the worker’s symptoms, clinical condition, or prognosis. The organization also did not specify how or when the worker contracted the virus.

The infected MSF staff member’s case emerged amid what has been described as the largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded in the DRC. Reports indicate approximately 8,000 confirmed cases and around 4,000 deaths, although these figures remain subject to revision as suspected cases undergo investigation and records are updated. The outbreak has prompted a broad international response involving national health authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO), MSF, and other humanitarian and medical organizations.

Health workers have been significantly affected during the outbreak. WHO reported 151 confirmed infections among health workers, including 44 deaths and 68 recoveries, as of its August 2026 disease outbreak report. The organization calculated a 29% case-fatality ratio among infected health workers. These infections highlight the occupational risks faced by medical personnel, who may be exposed through direct patient care, handling infectious materials, or breaches in infection-prevention protocols. WHO’s figures encompass health-worker infections across the outbreak and do not specifically pertain to MSF personnel alone.

The evacuation of the infected MSF worker was carried out under strict medical protocols designed to prevent onward transmission and ensure specialized care. MSF coordinated the transfer with health authorities in both the DRC and the Netherlands, the organization said. Dutch health ministry officials confirmed the patient’s admission to a high-level isolation unit at Leiden University Medical Center, a facility equipped to provide specialized treatment while minimizing the risk of further infections, Reuters reported. There have been no official reports of secondary infections linked to the evacuated MSF worker.

MSF’s initial public statement on October 1 confirmed the positive test and the medical evacuation but intentionally omitted identifying and clinical details to protect the staff member’s privacy. Reuters reported on the same day that the worker was being evacuated to the Netherlands, and by October 2, sources confirmed the patient had arrived and been admitted to the isolation unit at Leiden University Medical Center. WHO had previously reported humanitarian workers contracting Bundibugyo virus in the DRC and being medically evacuated to Europe earlier in 2026.

As of the latest reporting, no official sources have disclosed the current condition or outcome of the infected MSF worker. The ongoing outbreak continues to be monitored by international health authorities, with efforts focused on containment, treatment, and protecting frontline medical personnel.