People Storm Congo Hospital Treating Ebola Patients To Demand Kin's Bodies, Third Attack In A Week

Last Updated:May 25, 2026, 18:10 IST

Gunmen storm Mongbwalu General Hospital in eastern Congo demanding Ebola victims bodies, staff evacuate as attacks on Ebola facilities rise.

Days after people set fire to an Ebola treatment centre in eastern Congo, another hospital has reported some people storming a hospital and firing gunfire.

The incident was reported in Mongbwalu General Hospital. Associated Press quoted Dr. Richard Lokudu, the hospital’s medical director, saying the attackers demanded that two bodies of their relatives be handed over to them.

He further said after hearing the gunfire the medics started evacuating the patients and the staff.

“Mongbwalu General Hospital is on general alert," he added.

This comes days after people set an Ebola treatment centre on fire in Rwampara.

Another such incident was reported in Mongbwalu when a group of residents attacked and set fire to a tent set up for suspected and confirmed Ebola cases by the Doctors Without Borders humanitarian group.

AP quoted Lokudu saying at the time that 18 people with suspected Ebola infections left the facility and were now unaccounted for.

On Sunday, the Congolese Ministry of Communication confirmed on X that there were 904 suspected cases of Ebola, mostly in northeastern Ituri Province. It also said the total suspected Ebola deaths stood at 119.

Last week, the WHO raised the risk from Ebola in the DRC to its highest level – “very high". While it put the risk in Central Africa as “high", the global risk remained “low".

Ebola is a severe and often fatal disease transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood, vomit or semen from infected individuals. The virus has historically spread rapidly during community funerals and caregiving activities. The current outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo variant of Ebola, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or specific medicines. The WHO has called for an urgent and coordinated international response to contain the outbreak before it spreads further across borders in the region.

According to Associated Press, bodies of those who died of Ebola can be highly contagious and lead to further spread when people prepare them for burial and gather for funerals.

News world People Storm Congo Hospital Treating Ebola Patients To Demand Kin's Bodies, Third Attack In A Week

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