Key facts
- Burial teams in Ituri, Congo, are facing significant challenges including community anger, fatigue, and fear of infection.
- The Ebola outbreak has resulted in nearly 3,200 deaths and over 6,500 cases.
- Community frustration stems from the inability to perform traditional burial rites due to health protocols.
- Rebel violence, displacement, and a weak healthcare system are hindering containment efforts.
- Health workers are striking for pay, further complicating the response.
In Ituri province, the epicenter of a deadly Ebola outbreak, burial teams are struggling with immense pressure from increased workloads, community anger, and the constant fear of infection. The outbreak has claimed nearly 3,200 lives among over 6,500 reported cases since mid-May.
Burial teams, paid $20 a day, are tasked with the sensitive duty of preparing and burying victims, a process complicated by the need to prevent further spread of the virus. Health workers exclusively handle the bodies, as they can contain significant amounts of the active virus. This restriction prevents families from performing traditional burial rites, leading to misunderstandings and hostility towards the teams.
Locals express frustration, with one mother lamenting the inability to perform final tributes for her daughter, Justine Habineno, who died of Ebola. She noted, "In the past, we didn’t die like this." The work is physically and mentally taxing, with team members like Yuma Adolphe and Benjamin Muhindo expressing fatigue but emphasizing their commitment to protecting the community.
The containment efforts are further challenged by ongoing rebel violence, displacement, and population movements in eastern Congo. A weak healthcare and surveillance system, coupled with insufficient contact tracing and laboratory testing, exacerbates the situation. The lack of an approved vaccine or treatment for the specific Bundibugyo virus strain adds another layer of difficulty, although front-line workers are being vaccinated with the Evrebo vaccine.
Authorities believe the true scale of the crisis may be three times higher than official statistics. Experts warn that the trauma extends beyond the case count, requiring an integrated response that includes social support for families and front-line workers. Despite the immense challenges, burial team members remain dedicated to their mission of safeguarding the community.