One person was killed and several others wounded when security forces opened fire to contain unrest during the burial of a suspected Ebola victim in northeastern Congo on Thursday. Residents demanded to see the body, questioning the cause of death, leading to a confrontation with the burial team and security forces.
The incident underscores the persistent mistrust and challenges faced by health workers in containing the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, potentially hindering efforts to control the spread of the disease.
One person was killed and several others were wounded after security forces fired shots to contain unrest during the burial of a suspected Ebola victim in northeastern Congo on Thursday, two sources said. The incident occurred at the Katula-Paida cemetery in Beni, a city in North Kivu province that has recently seen a surge in Ebola infections. Tensions escalated when residents demanded to see the deceased, questioning whether the person had died of Ebola, according to a member of the Ebola response team. Security forces escorting the burial team opened fire as they sought to contain the unrest. At least one person was killed and several others were injured, according to the response team member and a health official. Investigations are underway to establish the full toll and circumstances of the incidents. This incident is the latest in a series of attacks on burial teams and other Ebola responders, highlighting persistent mistrust among the population. The outbreak, declared on May 15, has infected 7,820 people and killed 3,779, according to government data released on Wednesday.
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