Clashes Erupt Over Ebola Victim's Body; Death Toll Exceeds 180 in One Month

Health officials block residents as they attempt to move a coffin containing a body.

A scuffle breaks out between residents and officials in protective gear as the latter attempt to take the coffin away.

Tear gas is fired at the resisting residents, followed by the sudden sound of loud gunfire.

The health officials quickly carry the coffin out and flee the village under police escort.

The incident occurred as residents opposed the burial procedures mandated by health authorities for a suspected Ebola victim.

Since the Ebola outbreak was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on May 15, the cumulative number of confirmed cases has surpassed 800, with the death toll exceeding 180 over the past month.

[Resident of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: We don't even know how to deal with this, and we haven't even received public education on safety measures. That is why we have no way to cope right now.]

Notably, on June 13, the number of confirmed cases rose by 72 in a single day, marking the highest daily increase.

The number of deaths also saw its highest daily increase, with 32 fatalities reported in one day.

The number of locations with confirmed cases in the DRC has risen to 31, and neighboring Uganda has also reported 14 confirmed cases and 2 deaths so far.

The problem is that the strain of the Ebola virus currently spreading is the Bundibugyo type, for which no vaccine has yet been developed.

The fatality rate of the Ebola virus in the DRC currently stands at 23.1%, but it is gradually rising toward the 30% average fatality rate of the Bundibugyo strain.

Doctors Without Borders issued a statement yesterday (June 15), saying that the response to the Ebola virus is failing to keep pace with the speed of its spread, and that the actual number of confirmed cases is likely higher.

[Ronzama / Health Official in Nizi, DRC: In places where there are no Ebola treatment centers or isolation centers, patients simply return to the community and die.]

Over the past 50 years, 15,000 people have died from the Ebola virus in Africa.

In the DRC, a major outbreak from 2018 to 2020 resulted in 2,300 deaths.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.