Congo Ebola Cases Rise Amid Burial Team Attacks
Ebola cases in Congo have risen to 363 amid attacks on burial teams, highlighting community mistrust and hindering containment efforts.
Ayla Demirhan ·
Congo Ebola Cases Rise Amid Burial Team Attacks
KINSHASA, June 4 () – The Democratic Republic of Congo reported an attack on an Ebola burial team in South Kivu province this week, coinciding with a rise in confirmed cases to 363, including 62 deaths, since the outbreak began on May 15. The incident occurred Monday in Katana, a town controlled by AFC/M23 rebels, where residents forced responders to abandon a coffin, leading to the community handling the highly infectious body.
This assault highlights ongoing mistrust and resistance hindering Ebola response efforts. Similar incidents have targeted burial teams and health workers, including a separate attack in Bunia, Ituri province, on Monday that injured at least four people. The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is now confirmed across 17 of 36 health zones in Ituri province, seven health zones in North Kivu, and one in South Kivu.
Despite these challenges, the International Organization for Migration is establishing 30 health control posts across the three affected provinces to monitor health and prevent further spread. Health authorities also noted progress, with 32 contact cases in Ituri's Rwampara completing 21 days of monitoring without developing Ebola, and a patient in Goma, North Kivu, recovering and being discharged.