Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have reported that an Ebola burial team was attacked by residents in South Kivu province, forcing emergency responders to flee and abandon a coffin containing the body of a suspected Ebola victim.
Officials warned that community members later handled the body, raising fears of further transmission of the highly contagious virus.
The incident occurred in the town of Katana and highlights the growing challenge health workers face in gaining public trust during the country’s latest Ebola outbreak.
According to the DRC Health Ministry, resistance to official burial procedures remains a major obstacle, as Ebola can spread through contact with the bodies of infected victims.
The attack came amid a worsening outbreak caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine.
Since the outbreak was declared in May, hundreds of confirmed cases and dozens of deaths have been recorded across eastern provinces, including Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu.
Health officials say insecurity, misinformation, and community mistrust are complicating efforts to trace contacts and contain the disease.
