The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was still grappling with the country’s largest Ebola outbreak when a new 11th outbreak took hold in June. But the current outbreak, located in the country’s west, looks quite different from its record-setting predecessor: the virus appears to be spreading more slowly, producing small clusters in isolated areas, and has a lower mortality rate. 

But why is this outbreak so different from the country’s previous experiences? How has the medical response evolved, and how can we take advantage of the experience gained through previous outbreaks? 

With the coronavirus pandemic stretching on, we could all do with some good news right now. As our teams continue to work with communities around the world to improve healthcare and save lives, we’re celebrating some recent successes in which we played a part. 

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has now reported more than 6,000 coronavirus cases. Already struggling to contain two other outbreaks—a severe measles outbreak and the second largest known outbreak of Ebola—the addition of COVID-19 is creating significant strain for the country’s healthcare system. 

In the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, three countries in sub-Saharan Africa are enduring some of the largest measles outbreaks in the world. But preventative measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 could jeopardise lifesaving measles vaccination campaigns.

As the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic is unfolding, our teams are working in more than 70 countries around the world, providing urgent medical care for people fleeing violence, mothers giving birth and children needing treatment for measles or malnutrition. From the conflict in Syria to the continued displacement of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, these are some of the crises we must not forget in the time of Covid-19.

In 2019, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) provided medical care for people in 74 countries. Here are some of the most unforgettable stories from our patients over the last year.