Ebola treatment center set on fire in Congo after residents clash with authorities over victim’s body

An Ebola treatment center in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo was set on fire on May 21, 2026, after local residents clashed with health authorities over the retrieval of a suspected victim’s body.

The attack targeted Rwampara Hospital, where local youths attempted to take the body of a friend who had reportedly died from the virus. According to reporting from The Associated Press, the situation escalated when authorities refused to grant access to the deceased, leading protesters to break into the facility and set fire to objects inside.

A witness to the event, local student Alexis Burata, told The Associated Press that police attempted to intervene and calm the crowd, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Burata stated that the young people eventually set fire to the center.

The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) confirmed that two tents used for treating Ebola patients were destroyed in the blaze. At the time of the attack, six people were receiving treatment at the center.

Patrick Muyaya, a government spokesperson for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, stated that all six patients were accounted for and that medical care continued to operate normally following the incident. Muyaya condemned the violence against medical staff and health facilities and called for calm.

The clash highlighted a growing conflict between strict medical containment protocols and local cultural traditions regarding funerals and burial rites. Deputy Senior Commissioner Jean Claude Mukendi, who leads the public security department in Ituri Province, indicated that those involved in the attack did not understand the specific protocols required for Ebola burials.

“His family, friends, and other young people wanted to take his body home for a funeral even though the instructions from the authorities during this Ebola virus outbreak are clear,” Mukendi said. “All bodies must be buried according to the regulations.”

ALIMA also issued a statement condemning the proliferation of incorrect or unconfirmed information on the internet and social media, warning that such misinformation can increase fear and foster mistrust toward health facilities.

The incident occurred as Congolese health officials reported 671 suspected Ebola cases and 160 suspected deaths across two provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The outbreak has also expanded beyond the DRC’s borders. The United Nations reported earlier in the week of May 18, 2026, that neighboring Uganda had recorded two cases, including one death.

Health officials have identified the cause of the outbreak as the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. This particular variant is rarer than other strains, and officials warned that existing vaccines may be less effective against it.

In response to the escalating crisis, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency on May 17, 2026. Shortly after the declaration, the United States issued an urgent travel warning for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern regarding the speed and scale of the epidemic. To support national authorities in their response to the outbreak, the WHO has approved nearly $4 million in emergency funding.

A reporter at the scene also witnessed what appeared to be the body of at least one suspected Ebola victim being burned inside the facility during the unrest.