Congo reports attack on Ebola burial team

An attack on an Ebola burial team in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has forced responders to abandon a coffin, heightening concerns about the further spread of the virus. The assault occurred this week in Katana, South Kivu province.

The incident targeted a specialized team trained to handle highly infectious bodies under strict protocols to prevent contagion. Following the attack, community members handled the body, a high-risk practice that health officials warn can fuel new chains of infection. The health ministry and a local hospital official confirmed the event but did not specify the exact trigger for the assault.

This act of violence underscores the deep-seated mistrust and resistance that continue to hamper efforts to control the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola. In recent weeks, burial teams and health workers have faced similar targeting, sometimes from relatives of victims who question the cause of death.

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The assault took place on Monday in Katana, a town controlled by AFC/M23 rebels some 30 km (19 miles) north of the provincial capital Bukavu.

In a separate but related incident on Monday in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, residents assaulted a response team at a cemetery, leaving at least four people injured. The latest outbreak, declared on May 15, has seen 363 confirmed cases and 62 deaths across 17 health zones in Ituri province, with infections also spreading to North and South Kivu provinces.

Despite these challenges, some progress is being noted. Health authorities reported 19 new confirmed cases and two deaths in the most recent update. International aid continues to arrive, with supplies for 300 safe burials reaching Bunia on June 3. Officials are also preparing to discharge a recovered patient in Goma, North Kivu, who has since been reunited with her family.

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The incident underscores mistrust and resistance that continue to hamper response efforts as officials try to control the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.