Violence erupted at an Ebola treatment facility in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo after protesters set fire to medical tents during unrest linked to the handling of an Ebola victim’s body.
According to local officials, tensions escalated when relatives of a young man who reportedly died from Ebola attempted to forcefully retrieve his body from Rwampara Hospital in Ituri province. Health authorities allegedly refused the request in line with disease containment protocols, triggering anger among family members and residents gathered at the facility.
During the confrontation, protesters threw objects at hospital tents operated by the medical humanitarian organisation Alliance for International Medical Action, causing a fire that destroyed two treatment tents.
The organisation confirmed that six Ebola patients were receiving treatment in the affected tents at the time of the incident. The patients were later transferred safely into the main hospital building for continued care.
Videos circulating online showed flames engulfing the temporary medical structures, leaving behind burnt frames and damaged hospital equipment. Security personnel deployed to the area reportedly fired warning shots to disperse the crowd and restore order.
Government officials condemned the attack, warning that misinformation and public distrust surrounding Ebola continue to fuel dangerous reactions within affected communities.
Local leaders said many residents in remote areas still doubt the existence of the disease, with false claims and conspiracy theories spreading rapidly across social media platforms and local communities.
The outbreak in eastern Congo has been linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Health authorities say the outbreak has already caused significant casualties, with hundreds of suspected infections under investigation.
The World Health Organization has classified the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern, although officials maintain that the overall global risk remains low.
Authorities in the DRC continue to monitor hundreds of suspected cases and trace thousands of contacts as efforts intensify to contain the spread of the virus.
