DR Congo Battles Ebola Spread as Response Teams Suffer Assaults

Efforts to curb the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being hampered by attacks on response teams, as health authorities report continued spread of infections across multiple provinces. A notable incident took place on Monday in Katana, a town within South Kivu Province under the control of AFC/M23 rebels. There, local residents launched an assault on a specialised Ebola burial team, whose mandate is to ensure safe and respectful burials in line with stringent health guidelines.

The Ministry of Health confirmed that the assault compelled the team to abandon the coffin, leading community members to handle the deceased's body directly. Health experts have issued warnings that such actions carry substantial risks, given that Ebola victims can remain highly contagious even post-mortem, which significantly elevates the likelihood of establishing new transmission chains. Neither the health ministry nor hospital officials in the vicinity provided details on the specific trigger for this attack. This event underscores the deep-seated distrust and opposition that persistently obstruct containment efforts against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.

Authorities revealed that burial crews and medical personnel have endured multiple assaults in recent weeks, with some attacks even originating from victims' relatives who dispute the official cause of death. Another parallel incident occurred on Monday in Bunia, the administrative centre of Ituri Province, where the initial Bundibugyo strain cases were identified. Reports indicate residents there attacked an Ebola response team at a local cemetery. Health officials confirmed that a minimum of four individuals sustained injuries in that particular assault.

Since the current outbreak was officially declared on May 15, the Democratic Republic of Congo has documented approximately 363 confirmed Ebola infections and around 62 fatalities. The latest figures released by the health ministry indicate at least 19 new confirmed cases, alongside two additional deaths. Officials stated that the virus has now spread to 17 out of 36 health zones within Ituri Province. Furthermore, fresh infections have surfaced in seven health zones in North Kivu Province and one health zone in South Kivu Province.

Notwithstanding these difficulties, officials highlighted certain encouraging progress in the ongoing response. The health ministry reported that roughly 32 individuals in Rwampara, Ituri Province, who had been identified as contacts of Ebola patients, successfully completed their 21-day monitoring period without contracting the virus. Plans were also announced by authorities to release a patient who had recovered from Ebola in Goma city, situated in North Kivu Province. Freddy Kaniki, who serves as the deputy coordinator for the AFC/M23 rebels, subsequently confirmed that the recovered individual had been reunited with their family. This marks the 17th Ebola outbreak documented in the Democratic Republic of Congo.