An enraged mob set ablaze an emergency Ebola treatment center established in response to a significant outbreak. The incident occurred in a town in the eastern region of Congo when the crowd was prevented from retrieving the body of a local man, as reported by local authorities.
The death toll in the Central Africa Ebola outbreak has reached 139, with over 600 suspected cases. World Health Organization experts cautioned that it might take up to nine months to develop a vaccine for Bundibugyo, the specific strain of Ebola causing the recent surge in infections.
Local youths, who were denied access to the body of a friend believed to have succumbed to Ebola, set fire to the center in Rwampara, according to a witness. Despite police intervention, the situation escalated, leading to the destruction of the facility. Eyewitnesses, including an Associated Press journalist, observed individuals breaking in, setting fire to objects and potentially an Ebola victim’s body. Aid workers had to evacuate the premises.
Deputy Senior Commissioner Jean Claude Mukendi of the public security department in Ituri Province explained that there was confusion among the crowd regarding the proper burial procedures for suspected Ebola victims. He emphasized the necessity of adhering to the regulations during this outbreak.
Hama Amadou, the field Coordinator for the humanitarian organization ALIMA operating at the site, later confirmed that calm had been restored, and the aid efforts at the center were ongoing.
The Democratic Republic of Congo authorities and various international aid organizations are working fervently to contain the outbreak, which has been labeled a “global health emergency” by the WHO. In response to the situation, the national football team of the Democratic Republic of Congo canceled its pre-World Cup training camp in Kinshasa due to the outbreak. Their scheduled friendly matches against Denmark and Chile have been affected.
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