An Ebola burial team faced an attack this week in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu province. The incident forced responders to abandon a coffin. Health officials fear this could lead to further spread of the virus. The health ministry reported the event.
The assault happened in Katana. This town is controlled by AFC/M23 rebels. It is located about 30 km north of Bukavu. The target was a specialized burial team. These responders handle infectious bodies. They follow strict safety rules. These rules prevent the virus from spreading. Community members handled the body instead. This is a very risky practice. It can start new infections.
This attack highlights mistrust. It also shows resistance to health efforts. These issues make it harder to control Ebola. The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is spreading. In recent weeks, burial teams faced attacks. Relatives of victims sometimes question causes of death. Similar attacks have occurred before. One on Monday in Bunia injured four people. Bunia is the capital of Ituri province.
Congo has recorded 363 confirmed Ebola cases. There have been 62 deaths. This is since the outbreak started on May 15. The country is facing its 17th Ebola outbreak. Health authorities reported 19 new confirmed cases recently. Two of these cases resulted in death. Infections are now in 17 out of 36 health zones. Ituri province has the most cases. Cases are also reported in North Kivu. South Kivu province also has cases.
The International Organisation for Migration is helping. They are setting up 30 health control posts. These posts will be in three affected provinces. They will monitor people's health. They will also prevent sick individuals from spreading the virus. Frantz Celestin, the UN agency's regional head, shared this. He spoke to Reuters on Thursday. There has been some good news. 32 contacts in Ituri were monitored. They completed 21 days without Ebola. Officials in Goma are preparing to discharge a recovered patient.
International supplies are arriving in eastern Congo. Kits for 300 safe burials arrived in Bunia on June 3. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said this. These supplies are crucial for response efforts. They allow for safe handling of bodies. This reduces the risk of transmission. The attacks create significant challenges for health workers. They need community trust to succeed. Lack of trust leads to dangerous practices.