The capacity of the Ebola Treatment Centre in the Lita health zone of Ituri, Democratic Republic of the Congo, has expanded from 25 to 85 beds, according to an announcement made on September 6, 2026, by local health officials. The infrastructure upgrade is designed to strengthen containment and care efforts as the region manages active viral transmission following the confirmation of the first case on May 18.
Infrastructure Expansion at the Lita Ebola Treatment Centre
The facility expansion adds a new module capable of receiving 60 patients, supplementing the older 25-bed unit, according to Dr. Patience-Pacifique Lokengama, the chief medical officer of the Lita health zone. The wider response effort in Djugu territory relies on six newly installed tents providing 12 beds specifically designated to separate suspected cases from confirmed positive patients. Dr. Lokengama noted that separating patient categories is a critical measure to prevent nosocomial transmission among vulnerable individuals and healthcare personnel.
Operational logistics have also been enhanced through a collaborative framework involving multiple international and United Nations entities. The World Health Organization coordinated logistical support with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which performed essential terrain leveling to clear the site for construction. Additional operational partners include the World Food Programme, UNICEF, and ALIMA, which contributed to establishing an operational laboratory and reliable water infrastructure on site.
Current Patient Demographics and Sefety Protocols
Health authorities at the Lita treatment site are managing a steady volume of clinical activity. According to Dr. Lokengama, the center admits an average of three to four new patients daily and processes three to four bodies each day through dignified and safe burial protocols. However, surveillance data indicated a brief window of zero virus-related burials over a 48-hour period prior to the announcement.
Thierno Baldé, WHO response operations manager in the DRC, emphasized the ongoing reliance on community mobilization and inter-agency coordination, which includes arrangements with MONUSCO for medical evacuations. The combination of expanded bed capacity, rapid diagnostic capabilities via the newly functioning laboratory, and rigorous infection prevention protocols provides the primary operational defense for containing the outbreak in northeastern DRC.
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