Speed, money and compassion – lessons from an Ebola survivor and other experts

Speed money and compassion – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is once again grappling with an Ebola outbreak, a situation that has stirred memories for survivors and frontline workers like Patrick Faley. As medics race to contain the spread, the crisis echoes past challenges, prompting reflection on how lessons from previous outbreaks can inform today’s response. Faley, who lived through the devastating West African epidemic a decade ago, shares his harrowing experience, highlighting the importance of early action, community trust, and the human cost of the disease.

A personal journey through the darkest days of Ebola

Patrick Faley, now a survivor, recounts a moment that etched itself into his memory. “I saw the burial team taking eight of them,” he says. “They put them into a bag and carried them to the burial. I made new friends although they ended up dying. I was the only person that was left there.” His account captures the stark reality of the 2014-2016 West African outbreak, which claimed over 11,000 lives in just two years, primarily in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. For Faley, the trauma of losing friends during that period remains vivid, raising critical questions about how to mitigate similar tragedies in the current DRC outbreak.

During that crisis, Faley was a community volunteer, tasked with spreading awareness about Ebola’s transmission. His role required him to travel from village to village, explaining how the virus spreads through contact with bodily fluids and urging people to abandon traditional greetings like handshakes. He also had to combat myths surrounding burial practices, such as washing the deceased’s bodies, which were linked to the disease’s rapid spread. However, his efforts were tested when he attended the funeral of a colleague who had succumbed to the virus. “You have to shake hands; you have to hug people,” he recalls, a moment that inadvertently exposed him to the virus, leading to his own illness.

Lessons from the past shaping the present response

Three days after the funeral, Faley fell ill with Ebola, transitioning from healthcare worker to patient. He was transported to Monrovia’s overcrowded ward, where the air was thick with the scent of decay and the cries of the dying. “We sat in the ambulance,” he remembers, “and people were just dying at the front of the hospital.” His recovery was a testament to resilience, but his wife and son became infected as well. While his wife made a full recovery, their four-year-old son, Momo, did not survive. This personal loss underscores the urgent need for effective containment strategies.

Dr. Patrick Otim, WHO’s area manager for Africa, emphasizes that the past decade’s experiences are shaping the current approach. “One of the biggest lessons from the West Africa outbreak and previous Ebola outbreaks in DRC is that speed matters,” he explains. “Early delays in detecting cases, isolating patients, and engaging communities can allow transmission chains to expand very quickly.” Otim adds that community trust is vital. “Safe and dignified burials, local leadership engagement, and clear communication are just as important as laboratories and treatment centres,” he says. These insights highlight the balance between medical interventions and cultural sensitivity in combating the virus.

The challenges of the Bundibugyo strain

This outbreak in eastern DRC marks the 17th in the country since the virus was first discovered in 1976. It is also the third known occurrence of the rare Bundibugyo species, which emerges less frequently than the more common Zaire strain. Unlike Zaire, Bundibugyo has no available vaccine or established treatment, presenting a unique challenge. “Just because a vaccine works against one particular type of a virus doesn’t mean it’s going to work against another one,” says Professor Thomas Geisbert, a leading expert on Ebola. He co-invented the first known vaccine, Ervebo, which is currently the only one in the global stockpile.

Geisbert explains that Bundibugyo’s genetic sequence differs from Zaire by about 30%, rendering existing vaccines ineffective. This genetic variation means that the current outbreak requires a tailored response, combining rapid containment with innovative approaches. “The key is to adapt strategies based on the specific characteristics of each strain,” he notes. The WHO estimates that it could take up to nine months to develop an effective vaccine for Bundibugyo, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Community tensions and the fight for trust

While the current measures, such as banning funerals for suspected cases, are crucial for containment, they have also sparked tensions in some communities. A recent incident near Bunia, the outbreak’s epicenter, saw a crowd set fire to part of a hospital after being denied the release of a body for burial. Such reactions highlight the delicate balance between public health mandates and cultural practices. “Community trust is essential,” Otim reiterates, “and without it, even the most advanced medical solutions can fail.”

Faley’s experience serves as a poignant reminder of the human toll of the virus. His journey from volunteer to patient, and the loss of his son, illustrates the personal stakes involved in outbreaks. As the DRC faces this new surge, the lessons from the past are not just historical—they are actionable. By prioritizing speed, investing in community engagement, and addressing the unique challenges of the Bundibugyo strain, experts hope to avert a similar tragedy. The ongoing efforts in Monrovia and Bunia, though fraught with difficulties, demonstrate the importance of learning from history to build a resilient future against Ebola.

While the West African outbreak was eventually brought under control through vaccines, the current situation in DRC reminds us that the fight against Ebola is far from over. The combination of medical innovation and community cooperation remains the cornerstone of effective response. As the WHO and local authorities work tirelessly to manage the outbreak, the story of Patrick Faley and others like him continues to inspire and caution, reinforcing the need for compassion, speed, and unwavering commitment in the face of a global health crisis.