Survey among survivors of the 1995 Ebola epidemic in Kikwit, Democratic Republic of Congo: their feelings and experiences

This study describes experiences of the survivors of the 1995 Ebola epidemi c in Kikwit, Democratic Republic of Congo. Most of the survivors in our sam ple had cared for a sick family member before becoming ill themselves, and most had never heard of Ebola before they developed symptoms and therefore did not suspect that they were infected by the virus. Fear, denial and sham e were their principal initial feelings. After release from hospital, survi vors were abandoned by family or friends more often than they had expected. Belief in god was an important aid to all of them. Their most negative exp eriences were witnessing other people dying in the isolation ward of the Ki kwit General Hospital, and the reluctance of hospital personnel to treat th em. During Ebola outbreaks more attention should be given to the psychosoci al implications of such an epidemic. Information campaigns should include a ntidiscrimination messages and more psychosocial support should be given to patients and their families.