BUNIA, Congo — An Ebola treatment center in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo was set ablaze on Thursday amid an expanding outbreak, as residents clashed with health workers over the handling of a suspected victim's body, officials and witnesses said.
The incident occurred in Rwampara, a town in Ituri province at the center of the outbreak, where health authorities are struggling to contain the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus.
A senior police officer and a witness told the Associated Press that local youths became angry after being prevented from retrieving the body of a man who had apparently died of Ebola. The group forced their way into the facility, set fire to tents and other structures, and burned what appeared to be the body, according to an AP journalist at the scene.
Police fired warning shots and deployed tear gas in an attempt to restore order, a local politician told CNN. Medical workers were later placed under military protection. Details on any injuries or exact damage remained unclear.
The outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026, in Ituri province. As of May 21, health authorities reported more than 500 suspected cases and around 130-148 suspected deaths across affected areas in Congo, with some confirmed cases also reported in Uganda and Kinshasa.
The World Health Organization declared the situation a public health emergency of international concern on May 17. No approved vaccine exists yet for the Bundibugyo strain, complicating response efforts in a region affected by insecurity and population movement.
The torching of the treatment center highlights community resistance to strict burial protocols designed to prevent further transmission, as traditional funeral practices can spread the virus through contact with bodies. Six patients, including three confirmed cases, escaped or were moved during the chaos but were later accounted for, according to reports.
Health officials have urged calm and cooperation as aid groups work to expand treatment and surveillance.
“As fear and anger grow over the outbreak, it is critical that communities work with responders to follow safety measures,” a WHO representative was quoted in earlier briefings on containment challenges.
The latest incident comes as the outbreak continues to spread across multiple health zones in Ituri and into neighboring areas. Authorities are monitoring for further transmission risks, particularly along borders with Uganda.
Response teams are restoring facilities and reinforcing protection for health workers, officials said.
