Editor's note: This series explores how the Ebola outbreak is affecting communities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. In this exclusive episode, CGTN Africa takes you inside Mongbwalu, where residents and health workers are confronting the outbreak and working to contain its spread.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is expanding its Ebola response as health workers confront a surge in suspected infections and the demands of containing the virus in communities.

At Mongbwalu General Hospital in Ituri province, medical teams are treating patients while also monitoring contacts, conducting surveillance and identifying possible new infections.

The added responsibilities are placing pressure on frontline staff, who must often provide care beyond their usual duties.

"When a patient is brought to me without an accompanying person, I have to play two roles: providing care and supervising the patient," head nurse at Mongbwalu General Hospital, Heritier Kumburi Ngabu, said.

"I have to change their clothes, make sure they behave properly in their beds, and take care of them. It's difficult and it weighs on me, but it's our mission, and we're doing our best," he said.

The government and international partners are expanding the hospital's Ebola treatment center to allow suspected cases to be isolated and treated more quickly.

The center currently has 113 beds, while a second facility is under construction.

"Anyone who has been in contact with patients is monitored closely. The moment a contact shows symptoms, they are classified as a suspected case and transferred to the treatment center," said medical doctor Richard Lopayi.

But treatment capacity alone cannot stop transmission, health workers say. Patients must also seek care quickly and communities must cooperate with disease surveillance efforts.

"If someone falls ill, decides to stay home, and refuses to come to the treatment center, they may later die in the community and could have infected dozens of people. When that happens, it becomes harder to break the chain of transmission," Lopayi added.

Health workers are also having to protect themselves from infection while caring for patients and carrying out surveillance.

Since it was officially declared, the Bundibugyo strain has spread faster than any of the DR Congo's previous 16 Ebola outbreaks, according to health authorities.

Frontline workers remain central to the response, but say sustained support from the government and humanitarian partners is needed as authorities work to contain the outbreak.