Protesters set fire to two Ebola treatment tents at Rwampara Hospital in eastern DRC after relatives tried to seize the body of a young Ebola victim, officials said. Six patients were moved into the hospital and police restored order. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain; the WHO has declared a global public health emergency, and the DRC reports at least 160 suspected deaths, 64 confirmed cases and 671 suspected cases. International cases have appeared in Germany and Uganda, and authorities warn that misinformation is fueling dangerous distrust of health teams.
Protesters Burn Ebola Treatment Tents in Eastern DRC After Relatives Try to Seize Body — WHO Declares Global Emergency
Clipped From Video
Protesters in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo set fire to medical tents treating Ebola patients at Rwampara Hospital on Thursday after relatives tried to remove the body of a young man who had died of the disease, local officials and aid groups said.
Luc Mambele, vice president of the Congolese political party A2RC, said tensions escalated when the family attempted to take the body "by force" and were denied access by health teams. Relatives then threw objects at the treatment tents, a blaze broke out, and police fired warning shots as they worked to disperse the crowd and restore order.
Six patients who were receiving care in the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) treatment tents were moved into the hospital after the attack, ALIMA said. The humanitarian medical organization also warned that unverified or false information circulating on social media is likely to fuel fear, mistrust and dangerous reactions toward health workers.
Video shared with news outlets showed large flames consuming the canvas structures and scorched frames and beds left in the aftermath. Mambele described being confined inside the hospital while police responded to the unrest.
A government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya, condemned the incident, saying the response by local residents was "exactly what they shouldn't do." Mambele highlighted the role of misinformation in the incident, saying many residents in remote areas believe Ebola is not real and that the population is not sufficiently informed.
Outbreak Status and International Spread
Health authorities say the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is no specific treatment or licensed vaccine. The World Health Organization has declared the event a public health emergency of international concern, while assessing the overall global risk as low.
The DRC reported at least 160 deaths suspected to be linked to the outbreak, with 64 confirmed cases and 671 suspected cases; more than 1,260 contacts are being monitored. According to WHO, the first suspected case was a healthcare worker whose symptoms began on April 24; a rapid response investigation in mid-May identified the Bundibugyo virus on May 15.
Cases have been identified beyond the DRC. Germany's Health Ministry said an American who had been working in the DRC tested positive and is being treated in a Berlin hospital. Uganda reported two laboratory-confirmed cases, including one death in Kampala; Ugandan authorities later said a female patient returned two negative tests and is currently out of danger. Cross-border transport between the DRC and Uganda has been restricted, with some flights, ferries and public transport suspended and border patrols increased.
Why it matters: Attacks on treatment sites and the spread of misinformation endanger both patients and health workers, undermine outbreak response and increase the risk of further transmission. Health officials and aid groups are urging accurate information, community engagement and protection for medical teams working to contain the outbreak.
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