Residents in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo set fire to Ebola isolation tents after health officials refused to release the body of a suspected Ebola victim to his family.
Gatekeepers News reports that the incident occurred at Rwampara Hospital in Ituri province, one of the regions battling the latest Ebola outbreak.
Reports said tensions escalated after relatives of Eli Munongo Wangu, a well-known local footballer believed to have died from Ebola, demanded to take his body home.
Medical officials reportedly blocked the request because Ebola victims can remain highly infectious after death and must be handled under strict health protocols.
The situation later turned violent as angry residents stormed the treatment facility and burnt tents used for isolating Ebola patients.
Security operatives reportedly fired warning shots and tear gas to disperse the crowd while some patients were evacuated from the hospital during the unrest.
Health authorities warned that attacks on medical facilities and interference with Ebola safety procedures could increase the risk of spreading the deadly virus across affected communities. Officials also described the incident as a major setback to ongoing containment efforts.
The current outbreak in DR Congo is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which presently has no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Health agencies say the outbreak has already claimed more than 100 lives in the region.
