According to the country’s health authorities, the incident occurred on Monday in Katana, a town in South Kivu province located about 30 kilometres north of Bukavu and currently under the control of AFC/M23 rebels. The targeted team was part of a “safe and dignified burial” unit—specialized responders trained to handle highly infectious remains using strict biosafety procedures designed to prevent transmission.
The health ministry confirmed that the body was left behind and later handled by community members, a practice officials warn significantly increases the risk of new chains of infection.
“Safe Burial” Efforts Interrupted Amid Rising Mistrust
Authorities did not disclose what triggered the attack, but the incident reflects growing mistrust in some affected communities, where health teams have increasingly faced resistance during response operations.
In previous weeks, similar tensions have reportedly escalated as relatives and residents questioned official causes of death, sometimes confronting or obstructing Ebola response workers.
A health situation report noted that abandoning a corpse and allowing untrained handling “is a high-risk practice that can fuel new chains of infection,” underscoring how fragile containment efforts remain in conflict-affected zones.
Separate Assault in Ituri Leaves Health Workers Injured
The unrest was not isolated. On the same day, in Bunia—the capital of Ituri province, where early cases of the current outbreak were confirmed—another response team was attacked at a cemetery.
At least four people were injured in that incident, according to local health sources and the official situation report. The pattern of hostility toward responders has raised concern among humanitarian actors already stretched by insecurity in the region.
17th Ebola Outbreak Spreads Across Multiple Health Zones
The outbreak, the 17th recorded in the country, was declared on May 15. Since then, authorities have confirmed 363 Ebola cases and 62 deaths, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health.
Recent updates show 19 new confirmed cases, including two deaths, with infections now spanning 17 of 36 health zones in Ituri province. The virus has also been reported in seven health zones in North Kivu and one in South Kivu, indicating a widening geographic footprint.
Health officials warn that the spread across multiple provinces complicates containment efforts, especially in areas affected by insecurity linked to armed groups, including AFC/M23.
Small Gains Amid Growing Operational Challenges
Despite the setbacks, officials say there are signs of progress in surveillance and recovery monitoring. In Ituri’s Rwampara area, 32 identified contacts have completed a full 21-day observation period without developing symptoms, suggesting successful interruption of transmission chains in that cluster.
In another development, health authorities in Goma, North Kivu, were preparing to discharge a recovered patient. A statement from AFC/M23 deputy coordinator Freddy Kaniki on social media confirmed that the survivor had been reunited with her family.
Trust and Security Emerging as Critical Health Factors
Beyond the medical response, the crisis increasingly highlights how insecurity and mistrust can undermine outbreak control. Safe burial protocols—one of the most important tools for preventing Ebola transmission—depend heavily on community cooperation.
When those systems break down, as seen in Katana and Bunia, health officials warn that even localized outbreaks can escalate quickly.
The situation underscores a recurring challenge in Ebola response efforts in eastern Congo: controlling a highly infectious disease in regions where armed conflict, displacement, and distrust of authorities intersect, complicating every stage of intervention—from diagnosis to burial.