Key facts
- One person was killed and several others wounded during an Ebola burial in Beni, North Kivu province, Congo.
- Security forces opened fire to contain unrest when residents demanded to see the body of a suspected Ebola victim.
- The incident occurred at the Katula-Paida cemetery.
- Investigations into the incident are underway.
- The current Ebola outbreak has infected 7,820 people and killed 3,779, according to government data released Wednesday.
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.