Police in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo fired warning shots into the air to disperse angry crowds attempting to reclaim the bodies of relatives who died at an Ebola treatment centre in Mongwalu, amid growing tensions over the deadly outbreak.
According to local journalists, unrest continued throughout Sunday as crowds gathered outside the treatment facility located within Mongwalu General Hospital. The same centre had already come under attack overnight between Friday and Saturday, when an isolation tent was set on fire.
Health officials warned that the bodies of Ebola victims remain highly infectious and can spread the virus further if traditional burial practices are carried out without safety measures.
Authorities say the current outbreak has recorded more than 900 suspected Ebola cases and at least 220 suspected deaths so far.
Dr Richard Lokudu, medical director of Mongwalu General Hospital, said the attackers were demanding the release of the bodies of two deceased patients to their families. He told the Associated Press that the hospital had been placed on “general alert” following the violence.
Mistrust of authorities and doubts over the causes of death have fueled fear and resistance among some affected communities. Similar unrest was reported last Thursday in Rwampara, near Mongwalu, where crowds burned isolation tents after being prevented from taking away the body of a suspected Ebola victim for burial.
Red Cross volunteers are currently conducting safe burials under police protection in an effort to prevent further spread of the virus. However, the organisation confirmed that three volunteers have also died from suspected Ebola infections, likely contracted while handling bodies.
Meanwhile, health ministers from DR Congo, Uganda and South Sudan have agreed to strengthen cross-border coordination efforts to contain the outbreak, alongside the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Uganda on Monday confirmed two new Ebola cases involving healthcare workers, bringing the country’s total infections to seven. Health authorities said the patients are receiving treatment while contact tracing efforts continue.
Africa CDC has warned that several African countries, including Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia, are at risk of the virus spreading across borders.
Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said African leaders would meet to discuss strategies for managing the outbreak, including safe isolation measures, proper waste management and ensuring dignified funerals for victims.
The regional response plan is expected to cost around $319 million, though only about 10 percent of the funding has so far been secured by the affected countries. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged $5 million in support, while African business leaders and international partners including the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and World Bank are also expected to contribute funds.
Africa CDC officially declared the outbreak in DR Congo’s Ituri province on 15 May, marking the country’s 17th Ebola outbreak. Days later, the World Health Organization declared it a public health emergency of international concern.
The outbreak is being driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has not been seen for more than a decade. Currently, there are no approved vaccines or medications specifically targeting this strain, making containment efforts more difficult. The WHO recently warned it could take up to nine months to develop a suitable vaccine.
Cases have also been detected in North and South Kivu provinces, areas bordering Rwanda and partly controlled by the M23 rebel group, whose ongoing clashes with government forces have further complicated efforts to contain the virus.