Misinformation has pervaded recent Ebola outbreaks in DRC and presented a serious obstacle to the implementation of effective public health measures. But the scepticism that underpins this misinformation has deep roots. The DRC has endured more than 13 Ebola outbreaks since 1976, alongside decades of conflict, displacement and resource extraction. Aid responses have been marred by scandal, including 80 alleged cases of abuse during the 2020 outbreak, some allegedly involving WHO personnel. Countering misinformation is urgent, but treating the mistrust behind it as simply misguided risks missing how much it is rooted in genuine grievances.
