An Ebola treatment center in eastern Congo was set on fire after residents clashed with authorities over the body of a suspected Ebola victim.
The attack happened at Rwampara Hospital in Ituri Province, an area at the center of the latest Ebola outbreak. Local youths reportedly tried to retrieve the body of a friend who had died from the virus so they could hold a funeral, despite strict burial rules meant to prevent further infections.
A witness said police attempted to calm the situation, but the crowd eventually broke into the facility and set fire to parts of the treatment center.
The Alliance for International Medical Action said two tents used to treat Ebola patients were burned. Six people were receiving treatment at the center at the time.
TRENDING TODAY
Patrick Muyaya, a spokesperson for the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said all six patients were accounted for and that medical care was continuing. He condemned the violence and urged residents to remain calm.
Local security officials said the attack appeared to be linked to confusion and anger over Ebola burial protocols. During an outbreak, bodies of suspected Ebola victims must be handled under strict safety rules because the virus can spread through contact with bodily fluids, including after death.
Officials said the victim’s family and friends wanted to take the body home for a traditional funeral, but authorities insisted that the burial follow Ebola containment regulations.
Health groups also warned that misinformation circulating on social media may be fueling fear and mistrust toward medical workers and treatment centers.
The incident comes as health officials report hundreds of suspected Ebola cases and more than 100 suspected deaths across parts of Congo. Neighboring Uganda has also reported cases connected to the outbreak.
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency and approved emergency funding to support the response.
Officials said the outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rarer variant that may present additional challenges for health workers and vaccine efforts.
Video shared online showed flames at the Ebola treatment site after residents clashed with authorities over a victim’s body.
Protesters storm Ebola hospital to retrieve victim’s body as they set fire to treatment tents and police open fire pic.twitter.com/htQbC0R4Ta
— The Sun (@TheSun) May 22, 2026
