Healthcare system resilience against emerging infectious diseases depends heavily on frontline worker preparedness, yet most healthcare professionals may be entering high-risk scenarios with dangerous knowledge gaps. This reality became starkly apparent during one of history's deadliest Ebola outbreaks, where the very people meant to contain transmission lacked essential protective knowledge. A comprehensive assessment of 290 healthcare workers across 72 facilities in Kinshasa during the 2018-2019 outbreak revealed alarming preparedness deficits. Only 16% had received formal Ebola training, while critical knowledge gaps persisted around transmission mechanisms. Fewer than one-third understood that traditional funeral ceremonies posed transmission risks, and only 34% recognized contaminated clothing as a vector. Standard protective behaviors showed concerning compliance rates, with hand hygiene practiced by 72% and appropriate glove use by just 63% of workers. Nearly half of healthcare facilities lacked designated triage areas for isolating suspected cases. Workers who had received formal training demonstrated significantly greater confidence in case management, highlighting the protective value of proper education. These findings illuminate a fundamental vulnerability in pandemic preparedness: the assumption that healthcare workers possess adequate baseline knowledge about emerging pathogens. The gap between perceived and actual preparedness creates a false sense of security that can accelerate transmission within healthcare settings. For future outbreak responses, this research underscores that comprehensive training programs must address cultural transmission routes and basic infection control principles. The study represents more than historical analysis—it provides a framework for identifying and addressing systemic weaknesses before the next infectious disease emergency strikes.