Mounting Ebola deaths trigger riots in Congo

• Angry men attacked a hospital in Congo during an Ebola outbreak
• Over 900 suspected cases reported as deaths reach up to 220
• Government burial restrictions spark protests and facility attacks

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — On Sunday evening, a group of angry young men stormed the Monbgwalu General Hospital, which is currently treating patients for the ongoing

Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo. The incident prompted medical staff to urgently evacuate patients as gunfire erupted in the vicinity. Medical director Dr. Richard Lokudu reported that the attackers demanded the return of two bodies belonging to their relatives. It remains unclear if there were any injuries resulting from the assault on the hospital.

Challenges in Managing the Ebola Outbreak

This attack marks the third incident within a week targeting healthcare facilities struggling with resource shortages to manage suspected Ebola cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified this outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.

Dr. Lokudu noted that bodies of individuals who succumbed to Ebola are highly contagious, raising the risk of further transmission during burial preparations and funeral gatherings. In response, Congolese authorities have mandated that burials of suspected Ebola victims be conducted by officials to mitigate these risks, a measure that has sparked protests from affected families.

Government Restrictions and Community Reactions

To curb the virus's spread, the government announced a ban on funeral wakes and gatherings exceeding 50 individuals in northeastern Congo. This decision has faced backlash, as demonstrated by a recent incident where residents of Mongbwalu attacked and set fire to a tent established by Doctors Without Borders for suspected and confirmed Ebola cases.

During that attack, 18 individuals with suspected Ebola infections fled the facility and are currently unaccounted for, according to Dr. Lokudu. Additionally, another treatment center in Rwampara was destroyed after relatives were prohibited from retrieving the body of a local man suspected to have died from Ebola.

Current Statistics and Health Risks

Earlier on Sunday, the Congolese Ministry of Communication reported 904 suspected Ebola cases, primarily concentrated in Ituri Province, marking a significant increase from the previous figure of over 700. The ministry also stated that the suspected death toll from Ebola stands at 119, although separate regional figures add up to 220, leading to confusion among officials.

Authorities are currently unable to provide an explanation for this discrepancy. It is important to note that there is no vaccine available for the Bundibugyo virus, a rare strain of Ebola, which has been spreading undetected since the first reported death in late April in Bunia, the provincial capital.

Impact on Healthcare Workers

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies announced that three of its volunteers died from the outbreak in Mongbwalu. The organization believes that these healthcare workers contracted the virus on March 27 while handling deceased individuals during a humanitarian mission unrelated to Ebola. If confirmed, this timeline would indicate that the outbreak began earlier than previously understood.