In Mongbwalu, a town in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, residents confront fear and disbelief as a new Ebola outbreak spreads. Multiple reports describe a climate in which some people doubt the disease’s seriousness or question the government’s response, while others witness neighbours becoming ill and dying. The accounts also link current behaviour to patterns seen in earlier Ebola outbreaks in the country, where mistrust and misinformation have contributed to heightened tensions. Some residents are reported to be sceptical of official efforts and may reject the idea that Ebola is the cause of deaths, including beliefs that the outbreak stems from non-medical causes. In this environment, denial and reluctance to cooperate can complicate public health messaging and containment efforts, even as the outbreak continues. The reports do not focus on a single incident but portray a broader social response in which fear, mistrust, and uncertainty coexist with the ongoing reality of Ebola cases in the community.