Attacks and unrest targeting Ebola treatment centres have intensified in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as health authorities struggle to contain a new outbreak that is raising fears of wider regional spread.
Reports say angry residents have attacked and burned some Ebola treatment facilities due to growing distrust of health measures being enforced by medical teams, particularly regarding burials and quarantine procedures.
In one incident in the town of Mongbwalu, protesters set fire to tents at an Ebola treatment centre operated by Doctors Without Borders, forcing several suspected Ebola patients to flee the facility.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the new outbreak, linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, poses a major threat because there is currently no fully approved vaccine or treatment specifically designed for that strain. The WHO also said ongoing conflict, insecurity, and weak healthcare systems are making it harder to control the outbreak.
Health experts warned that public mistrust toward authorities and aid workers could accelerate the spread of the disease, especially in areas already affected by armed violence and displacement.
Since the outbreak was declared in May, hundreds of suspected Ebola cases and dozens of deaths have been reported in eastern Congo and parts of neighboring Uganda.