DR Congo: Gunmen Storm Ebola Treatment Hospital, Demand Relatives’ Bodies

DR Congo: Gunmen Storm Ebola Treatment Hospital, Demand Relatives’ Bodies

The DR Congo Ebola outbreak has taken a dangerous turn after armed men stormed a hospital treating infected patients in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, forcing health workers to evacuate patients amid gunfire.

The attack occurred on Sunday at Mongbwalu General Hospital in Ituri province, the epicentre of the latest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, as young gunmen reportedly demanded the release of the bodies of two deceased relatives for burial.

According to the hospital’s medical director, Richard Lokudu, medical personnel acted swiftly to move patients to safety as panic gripped the facility.

The gunmen allegedly sought to retrieve the bodies despite strict Ebola containment protocols, which prohibit the release of remains due to the high risk of infection transmission.

The latest violence is part of a growing wave of unrest disrupting efforts to contain the deadly Bundibugyo Ebola virus, a rare strain for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

The Mongbwalu attack is the third violent incident targeting health facilities in Ituri province within a week, underscoring the growing resistance to public health interventions in the affected communities.

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Days earlier, angry relatives of a deceased footballer attacked Rwampara General Hospital after health officials refused to release the victim’s body for traditional burial rites, citing the danger of infection.

In another troubling development, suspected arsonists set fire to an Ebola treatment tent established by Doctors Without Borders at Mongbwalu General Hospital.

The attack caused confusion and panic within the facility, allowing at least 18 suspected Ebola patients to flee. Health authorities say several of them remain unaccounted for, raising fears of wider community transmission and complicating ongoing efforts to contain the outbreak.

The Congolese government says the DR Congo Ebola outbreak has recorded 904 suspected cases and 119 confirmed deaths, though international health experts warn the true figures could be much higher due to underreporting in conflict-affected areas.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the outbreak risk level in DR Congo to “very high,” warning that insecurity, public distrust and repeated attacks on health infrastructure are significantly weakening containment efforts.

The virus has now spread beyond Ituri province into parts of North Kivu and South Kivu, while neighbouring Uganda has also reported imported cases linked to cross-border movement from Congo.

Health officials continue to warn that the bodies of Ebola victims remain highly infectious after death, making proper handling and burial procedures essential to breaking transmission chains.

The WHO has stressed the importance of safe and dignified burials, but resistance to these protocols remains a major obstacle in many local communities where traditional burial practices are deeply rooted.

In response to the growing unrest, the Ituri provincial government has banned traditional wakes and prohibited the transportation of Ebola victims in private vehicles as part of emergency containment measures.

Authorities say misinformation, fear and mistrust continue to undermine public compliance with health directives, increasing the risk of a broader humanitarian and health crisis.

Public health experts have warned that unless security is restored and communities cooperate with disease-control efforts, the DR Congo Ebola crisis could spiral into a much larger regional emergency.

DR Congo: Gunmen Storm Ebola Treatment Hospital, Demand Relatives’ Bodies