Residents burn an Ebola center in Congo as fear and anger grow over the outbreak
Summary
People in eastern Congo set fire to an Ebola treatment center after being stopped from taking the body of a friend who died of Ebola. The attack shows the difficulties health workers face in controlling the outbreak while respecting local customs about burials.Key Facts
- The Ebola treatment center in Rwampara, Congo, was burned by local youths.
- The fire happened after locals were stopped from retrieving a body of an Ebola victim for burial.
- Ebola bodies can be highly contagious, so authorities require strict burial procedures to prevent spread.
- These rules often conflict with local customs, causing fear and anger in communities.
- There have been about 148 suspected deaths and nearly 600 suspected Ebola cases in the region.
- Two cases and one death have also been reported in neighboring Uganda.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) says the outbreak is likely bigger than official counts and is a public health emergency.
- Aid workers temporarily fled during the fire but have resumed work after calm was restored.
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