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Violent protests erupt at Ebola treatment center
Police in Mongwalu, a town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, fired warning shots on Sunday after angry crowds attempted to retrieve the bodies of relatives from an Ebola treatment facility. Two local journalists confirmed the unrest to the BBC, reporting that tensions persisted throughout the day.
Hospital targeted amid distrust and fear
The treatment center, located within Mongwalu General Hospital, had already been attacked earlier in the weekend. Between Friday night and Saturday morning, an isolation tent was set on fire. Health officials warn that the body of an Ebola victim remains highly contagious, posing a significant risk of further transmission if not handled properly during burial preparations.
According to Dr. Richard Lokudu, the hospital's medical director, Sunday's protesters demanded the release of two bodies to their families. He told the Associated Press that the facility was placed on "general alert" following the incident. One of the deceased was identified as a Catholic shepherd and prominent local religious leader, a hospital official told AFP.
Distrust fuels resistance to health measures
Skepticism toward authorities and doubts about the cause of death have deepened mistrust in communities affected by the outbreak. Similar violence occurred on Thursday in Rwampara, a town 85 kilometers southeast of Mongwalu, where crowds set fire to isolation tents after being prevented from taking the body of a suspected Ebola victim for burial.
The Red Cross has been conducting safe burials under police protection to curb the virus's spread. However, the organization reported that three volunteers have died from suspected Ebola, likely contracted while handling deceased individuals.
Regional response intensifies as cases rise
Health ministers from DR Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan, alongside the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), finalized cross-border coordination efforts over the weekend to contain the outbreak. Uganda confirmed two new cases on Monday, both involving health workers, bringing its total infections to seven, with one fatality. The country's health ministry stated that patients are receiving treatment and contact tracing is underway.
Africa CDC warned that nine other African nations-Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia-are at risk of an outbreak. The agency's director-general, Dr. Jean Kaseya, announced plans to hold a meeting with "all African leaders" on Monday to share guidance on preventing waste, managing cases, and ensuring dignified funerals.
Funding pledges and international support
DR Congo, Uganda, and South Sudan have agreed on a $319 million budget to prevent the outbreak from spreading further. Dr. Kaseya stated that 10% of the funds have been secured by the affected countries. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged an initial $5 million on Monday, emphasizing solidarity with Africa CDC and urging other nations to contribute.
"Africa is no longer waiting passively for others to act and to come to its assistance, waiting helplessly. The world is safer when Africa is safer. Delayed response and support today will result in much higher human, social, and economic costs tomorrow."
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa
Kaseya added that African business leaders would meet in Lagos on May 29 to raise additional funds, while international partners such as the U.S., U.K., European Union, and World Bank have also committed financial support.
Outbreak outpaces response efforts
Ten days after Africa CDC declared an Ebola outbreak in DR Congo's Ituri province, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged that responders are "playing catch-up" due to initial delays in detecting cases. He announced plans to travel to DR Congo the following day, stating, "We are urgently scaling up operations, but at the moment the epidemic is outpacing us."
The WHO has classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern. The current strain, Bundibugyo, is rare and had not been seen in over a decade. Unlike more common Ebola strains, there are no existing vaccines or treatments for Bundibugyo, complicating containment efforts. The WHO estimates it could take up to nine months to develop a vaccine.
In addition to Ituri, cases have been detected in DR Congo's North and South Kivu provinces, which border Rwanda. Ongoing clashes between government forces and the rebel group M23 in parts of these regions have further hindered response efforts.
