Protesters burn Ebola hospital tents in DR Congo amid burial dispute
A crowd in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) set fire to tents at a hospital treating Ebola patients after relatives of a suspected Ebola victim were stopped from taking his body for burial. The incident occurred at Rwampara General Hospital near Bunia in Ituri province, the centre of the current Ebola outbreak.
Local politician Luc Malembe Malembe described how the crowd threw projectiles at the hospital and burned isolation tents used for Ebola patients. Police fired warning shots to disperse the protesters, and medical staff were placed under military protection. A healthcare worker was injured by stones thrown during the unrest.
Why this matters
The body of a person who has died from Ebola is highly infectious, and safe burial practices are critical to preventing further spread of the virus. The protest highlights challenges in community trust and misinformation about Ebola, which complicate efforts to control the outbreak.
Background on the outbreak and local response
The outbreak in eastern DR Congo has so far resulted in over 130 deaths, with around 600 suspected cases reported. The virus strain involved is Bundibugyo, a rare Ebola species for which no vaccine currently exists. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern but does not consider it a pandemic.
Authorities have emphasized the importance of “safe and dignified burials” conducted by trained teams wearing protective equipment. However, some community members distrust the existence of Ebola, believing it to be an invention by outsiders or a scheme by NGOs and hospitals to make money. This mistrust contributed to the violent reaction when the body of the deceased young man, a popular local footballer, was not released to his family.
Impact on healthcare and security
The tents burned in the protest were part of the hospital’s Ebola isolation wards. Six patients were receiving treatment there, but reports indicate they remained accounted for and under care at the hospital despite initial fears they might have fled during the chaos.
Security forces have increased their presence at the hospital to protect healthcare workers and maintain order. Jean Claude Mukendi, coordinating the Ebola security response in Ituri, noted that some locals do not fully understand the disease, which complicates containment efforts.
Regional concerns and travel restrictions
The outbreak has affected neighboring countries, with two cases confirmed in Uganda. In response, Uganda has suspended flights, buses, and other public transport crossing its border with DR Congo. Passenger ferries on the Semliki River, which forms part of the border, are also banned.
Additionally, the rebel group M23, which controls parts of eastern DR Congo, reported its first confirmed Ebola case in South Kivu province, far from the outbreak epicenter. The group has pledged to cooperate with international partners to contain the virus despite limited experience managing such crises.
Additional developments
- DR Congo’s national football team cancelled its pre-World Cup training camp in Kinshasa due to the outbreak.
- The Congolese Health Minister reported 159 deaths from Ebola, slightly higher than WHO figures.
- The WHO estimates a vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain could take up to nine months to develop.
Recommended reading
For more context, see related Peack News coverage and explainers linked below.
