Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are carrying out an urgent operation to trace at least 20 Ebola patients who escaped from a treatment centre after a fire broke out at the facility.

The incident caused panic among patients and medical workers as flames spread through parts of the compound, forcing staff to focus on controlling the fire while also trying to maintain quarantine procedures.

Officials say the escape has created serious public health concerns because Ebola is a highly infectious disease that spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids from infected individuals.

Community health workers, security teams, and international health partners are now working together to locate the missing patients and prevent possible new chains of infection.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has experienced repeated Ebola outbreaks over the years, with the disease putting major pressure on the country’s healthcare system.Treatment centres are important for isolating infected patients and reducing transmission within communities.

Experts warn that if the escaped patients are not found quickly, the situation could lead to additional infections and undermine ongoing outbreak control efforts.

Investigations are also underway to establish the cause of the fire and assess whether proper emergency and fire safety measures were available at the facility.

The incident has again highlighted the difficult conditions faced by healthcare workers in eastern DRC, where insecurity, weak infrastructure, and limited resources continue to affect emergency health responses.

International organisations, including the World Health Organization, have been informed and are supporting local authorities with response measures such as contact tracing and community monitoring.Residents in nearby communities have been advised to immediately report any suspected sightings of the missing patients to health officials.