BUNIA, Congo (AP) — Residents in Mongbwalu, a town affected by the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, attacked and set fire to a tent at a health center treating Ebola patients on Friday night. This incident marks the second attack on a treatment facility in the region within a week. According to local hospital director Dr. Richard Lokudi, no injuries were reported, but 18 individuals with suspected Ebola infections escaped the facility during the chaos.
The attack followed a previous incident in Rwampara, where another treatment center was burned after family members were prohibited from retrieving the body of a local man suspected to have died from Ebola. The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorized the outbreak as posing a “very high” risk for Congo, with 82 confirmed cases and seven deaths reported, though the actual numbers are believed to be higher.
Authorities have implemented a ban on funeral wakes and gatherings of more than 50 people to mitigate the spread of the virus. Dr. Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasized the importance of building trust with local communities in response to the outbreak. Additionally, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies reported that three of its volunteers died from the outbreak while handling deceased individuals.
In a related development, U.S. federal health officials announced a ban on green card holders who have been in Ebola-affected countries from returning to the U.S., aiming to enhance screening and monitoring efforts.